title: Increased synthesis but decreased processing of neuronal proCCK in prohormone convertase 2 and 7B2 knockout animals.
abstract: In addition to its role as a gut hormone, cholecystokinin (CCK) is a widespread and potent neurotransmitter. Its biosynthesis requires endoproteolytic cleavage of proCCK at several mono- and dibasic sites by subtilisin-like prohormone convertases (PCs). Of these, PC1 and PC2 are specific for neuroendocrine cells. We have now examined the role of PC2 and its binding protein, 7B2, in the neuronal processing of proCCK by measurement of precursor, processing-intermediates and bioactive end-products in brain extracts from PC2- and 7B2-null mice and from corresponding controls. PC2-null mice displayed a nine-fold increase of cerebral proCCK concentrations, and a two-fold increase in the concentrations of the processing-intermediate, glycine-extended CCK, whereas the concentrations of transmitter-active (i.e. alpha-amidated and O-sulfated) CCK peptides were reduced (61%). Chromatography showed that O-sulfated CCK-8 still is the predominant transmitter-active CCK in PC2-null brains, but that the fraction of intermediate-sized CCK-peptides (CCK-58, -33 and -22) was eight-fold increased. 7B2-null brains displayed a similar pattern but with less pronounced precursor accumulation. In contrast with the cerebral changes, PC2 deficiency was without effect on proCCK synthesis and processing in intestinal endocrine cells, whereas 7B2 deficiency halved the concentration of bioactive CCK in the intestine. The results show that PC2 plays a major neuron-specific role in the processing of proCCK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. rehfeld@rh.dk
authors.forename: Jens F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rehfeld
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Friis-Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D007583:Jejunum / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D051859:Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein 7B2; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013381:Subtilisins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051859:Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein 7B2; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C060249:procholecystokinin; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D013381:Subtilisins; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2