Identification of a novel protease inhibitor gene that is highly expressed in the prostate.

A novel gene was identified 52 kb upstream of the gene encoding the protease inhibitor elafin (PI3) on human chromosome 20q12-13.1. The transcript of the new gene, denoted huWAP2, was characterized by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and DNA sequencing. The size is 774 bp and it gives rise to a polypeptide of 111 amino acid residues that is homologous to elafin and similar WAP-type protease inhibitors. By RT-PCR it was shown that the gene is highly expressed in prostate, skin, lung, and esophagus.