title: Inhibition of the alpha-amidation of gastrin: effects on gastric acid secretion.
abstract: Formation of biologically active amidated gastrin from glycine-extended progastrin processing intermediates (G-Gly) is achieved via the action of peptidyl-glycyl alpha-amidating monooxygenase. Since this enzyme requires copper for optimal activity, we examined the effects of a known copper chelator, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), on gastrin posttranslational processing and gastric acid secretion in vivo. DDC (400 mg.kg-1.day-1 ip X 3 days) administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats decreased antral amidated gastrin content, but increased antral G-Gly content. The ratio of amidated gastrin to G-Gly, which reflects in situ amidating activity, was decreased in DDC-treated rats. In contrast, tissue amidating potential, assayed directly under optimal copper concentrations in vitro, was increased in the antrum and unchanged in the pituitary. DDC markedly increased both basal and gastrin-stimulated gastric acid outputs despite the presence of normal serum amidated gastrin levels. These results suggest that copper chelation with DDC inhibits amidating activity in situ but selectively increases antral amidating enzyme synthesis. The marked increase in acid secretion despite normal circulating amidated gastrin concentrations, combined with the enhanced secretory response to exogenously administered gastrin, suggests the possibility that gastrin receptors are upregulated by the events precipitated via DDC administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, School of Medicine, Ann Arbor 48109.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000494:pharmacology; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D005755:Gastrins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011498:Protein Precursors; C013706:big gastrin; D004050:Ditiocarb; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; C035189:peptidylglycine monooxygenase; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors