PRSS8 encodes a trypsinogen, which is a member of the trypsin family of serine proteases. This enzyme is highly expressed in prostate epithelia and is one of several proteolytic enzymes found in seminal fluid. The 3-prime end of the cDNA was obtained by the RACE method. A 1.8-kb cDNA sequence was assembled encoding a predicted protein of 343 amino acids which contains a 32-amino acid signal peptide. The protein, designated serine protease-8 (PRSS8), was called prostasin by the authors. The precursor, proprostasin, is cleaved between residues 12 and 13 to produce a 12-amino acid light chain and a 299-amino acid heavy chain which are associated through a disulfide bond. The predicted amino acid sequence is between 34 and 42% identical to human acrosin, plasma kallikrein, and hepsin.