Toward a prostate specific antigen-based prostate cancer diagnostic assay: Preparation of keyhole limpet hemocyanin-conjugated normal and transformed prostate specific antigen fragments

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) molecules secreted by cancerous and normal prostate cells differ in their N-linked glycan composition, while the peptide backbone appears to be conserved. Antibodies selectively recognizing such differentially glycosylated PSA structures could form a basis for a new diagnostic assay for prostate cancer. Twenty-amino acid PSA fragments carrying di-, tri-, and tetrabranched complex-type glycans were prepared by total synthesis and conjugated to maleimide-modified keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) carrier protein through backbone Cys residues. These glycopeptide/KLH conjugates were then used for antibody generation.