PRAP, a prolactin receptor associated protein: its gene expression and regulation in the corpus luteum.

We have recently identified, characterized, and cloned a luteal microsomal 32-kDa phosphoprotein that we named PRAP (for PRL-receptor associated protein), and we have demonstrated that PRAP binds to the intracellular domain of the short but not the long form of the PRL receptor. In this study, we used PRAP cDNA to examine the tissue specificity, the developmental expression, and the hormonal regulation of PRAP gene expression. Northern blot analysis revealed that in the corpus luteum, PRAP cDNA hybridized to multiple transcripts (5.5 kb, 4.3 kb, and 1.8 kb), with the smallest transcript (1.8 kb) corresponding to the size of the cDNA clone. However, none of these transcripts were detected in any other tissues examined. PRAP appears to be tightly regulated by steroids and PRL. When pregnant rats were treated with aminoglutethimide, a steroid synthesis inhibitor, all three PRAP transcripts became barely detectable. Similar results were obtained when all luteotropic support was removed by hypophysectomy and hysterectomy. Estradiol up-regulated PRAP expression and, more specifically, the two lower transcripts. PRL had no stimulatory effect on PRAP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression but caused a substantial increase in the level of PRAP protein when administered to hypophysectomized pregnant rat, suggesting that PRL may stabilize this protein. Similar dissociation between levels of mRNA and protein were observed during luteal development. Although both PRAP mRNA and protein were barely detectable in early pregnancy, their expression increased abruptly from midpregnancy; however, whereas levels of PRAP mRNA declined from day 18, those of the protein remained elevated until parturition. In summary, results of this study have defined the tissue specificity and developmental expression of PRAP mRNA during pregnancy. The data have also revealed that the gene expression of this protein is up-regulated by estradiol, suggesting a pivotal role for PRAP in the synergistic action of estradiol and PRL on the function of the rat corpus luteum.