Effect of leupeptin, a protease inhibitor, on dopa decarboxylase and protease activities in homogenates of submandibular salivary glands from young rats.
Dopa-decarboxylase activity was high at 2-3 weeks of age, low at 5-6 weeks, and very low in adult rats; protease activity increased with age. Trypsin-like proteases, which decrease dopa-decarboxylase activity, were detected in the gland and were inhibited by a protease inhibitor, leupeptin. High concentrations (20 mg/ml) of leupeptin increased dopa-decarboxylase activity in the glands of adult rats to the level found at 5-6 weeks of age. The low activity of dopa decarboxylase in adult gland may be due in part to endogenous proteases.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001142:Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*
D007976:Leupeptins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase; D001142:Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases; C032854:leupeptin