A new signal sequence trap using alkaline phosphatase as a reporter.

Secreted and transmembrane proteins are critical to the cell-cell interactions governing normal development and carcinogenesis. To facilitate the identification of such molecules, we have developed a novel signal sequence trap that uses human placental alkaline phosphatase as a reporter. Libraries from mouse prostate and human prostatic carcinoma were constructed to test the PST (peptide signal trap) system, resulting in the identification of several secreted and transmembrane proteins.