Production of SVP-1/-3/-4 in guinea pig testis. Characterization of novel transcripts containing long 5'-untranslated regions and multiple upstream AUG codons.

The GP1G gene of the guinea pig codes for three of the four abundant seminal vesicle secretory proteins produced in this species. This gene is expressed at highest efficiency in the seminal vesicle (SV) from a promoter that contains a canonical TATA box and CCAAT box. However, GP1G gene transcripts and proteins have also been identified in other tissues. To investigate the structure of GP1G transcripts produced in the testis, cDNA clones were isolated by screening a testis library. Three unique cDNAs (TSM1-3) were isolated. Each of these clones contained a 3'-untranslated region (UTR) and coding region identical to that of the seminal vesicle transcript. However, the 5'-UTRs of the testis transcripts were significantly longer than that found on the SV mRNA (416-646 nucleotides compared with only 23 nucleotides for the SV). Each of these alternatively spliced 5'-UTRs incorporated the SV promoter elements into transcribed sequence, and each contained multiple upstream AUG codons predicted to abolish translation of the major open reading frame. Nevertheless, each of the testis transcripts was capable of directing the synthesis of GP1G-related proteins in vitro. Analysis of the translation products suggests that the extended 5'-UTR of the testis transcripts regulate both the choice of translation start site and the efficiency of translation in this system. Western blot analysis of testis proteins revealed that the protein products of GP1G are also synthesized by the testis in vivo.