Somatostatin-14 Research Articles

Postnatal Development of NPY and Somatostatin-28 Peptidergic Populations in the Human Angular Bundle.

The angular bundle is a white matter fiber fascicle, which runs longitudinally along the parahippocampal gyrus. It is best known for carrying fibers from the entorhinal cortex (EC) to the hippocampus through the perforant and alvear pathways, as well as for carrying hippocampal output to the neocortex, and distributing fibers to polysensory cortex. The angular bundle is already present prenatally at the beginning of the fetal period. Connections between the EC and the hippocampus are established by the 20th gestational week (gw). In the postnatal period, it shows increasing myelination. The angular bundle, as well as other white matter portions of gyral surfaces in the brain, presents interstitial neurons, a remnant of subplate neurons. Those interstitial neurons show neurochemical phenotypes both prenatally and postnatally, among which, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Somatostatin-28 (SOM-28) peptidergic populations are noticeable, and accompany the fiber connections in the maturation of the hippocampal formation. We sought to investigate the topography of the postnatal distribution and relative density of neurons immunoreactive for NPY or SOM in the angular bundle along the rostrocaudal axis of the hippocampus. The study was carried out in 15 cases, ranging from 35 gws, up to 14 year old. All cases showed positive neurons showing a polygonal or spindle shaped morphology for both peptides, scattered throughout the angular bundle. The highest number of positive neurons appeared around birth and the ensuing weeks. Up to one and a half years, the density of both peptidergic populations decreased slightly. However, cases older than 2 years of age showed a substantial decrease in density of immunolabeled neurons, density that did not showed a minor decrease in density of positive neurons in cases older than 2 years. In addition, a topography from caudal to rostral levels of the angular bundle was detected at all ages. The functional significance of interstitial cells is unknown, but the existence of SOM and NPY peptidergic neurons, presumably inhibitory, in the white matter of the angular bundle, could contribute to the basic wiring of the hippocampal formation, through which autobiographical and spatial memories can begin to be stored in the infant brain.

Identification, characterization of selenoprotein W and its mRNA expression patterns in response to somatostatin 14, cysteamine hydrochloride, 17β-estradiol and a binary mixture of 17β-estradiol and cysteamine hydrochloride in topmouth culter (Erythroculter ilishaeformis).

In this study, a selenoprotein W cDNA was cloned from topmouth culter (Erythroculter ilishaeformis), and it was designated as EISelW. The EISelW open reading frame was composed of 261 base pairs (bp), encoding 86-amino-acid protein. The 5' untranslated region (UTR) consisted of 104bp, and the 3'-UTR was composed of 365bp. A selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) element was found in the 3'-UTR of EISelW mRNA. The SECIS element was classified as form II because of a small additional apical loop presented in SECIS element of EISelW mRNA. Bioinformatic approaches showed that the secondary structure of EISelW was a β1-α1-β2-β3-β4-α2 pattern from amino-terminal to carboxy-terminal. Real-time PCR analysis of EISelW mRNAs expression in 17 tissues showed that the EISelW mRNA was predominantly expressed in liver, ovary, pituitary, various regions of the brain, spinal cord and head kidney. Study of intraperitoneal injection showed that the levels of EISelW mRNA in brain, liver, ovary and spleen were regulated by somatostatin 14 (SS14), 17β-estradiol (E2), cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) and a binary mixture of E2 and CSH, dependent on the dosage. These results suggest that E2, SS14 and CSH status may affect tissues of selenium metabolism by regulating the expression of SelW mRNA, as SelW plays a central role in selenium metabolism.

The production of recombinant 15N, 13C-labelled somatostatin 14 for NMR spectroscopy

Structural studies of human peptide hormone somatostatin 14 (SS14) require high amounts of isotopically labelled SS14 to be produced. Here we report a method for effective production of isotopically labelled SS14. SS14 was expressed as a fusion protein with thioredoxin in Escherichia coli. Co-expression of a longer polypeptide product lowered the yield of the target peptide and complicated its purification. The side product contained the N-terminal 6His-tag together with the thioredoxin fusion partner and the specific enzymatic cleavage site-containing linker followed by an unknown peptide starting with the first 7N-terminal amino acid residues of SS14, as revealed by the Edman degradation. The combination of DNA sequence analysis, the Edman degradation, and high-resolution mass spectrometry allowed to identify the amino acid sequence of the unknown peptide. The appearance of the side product was attributed to inefficient termination of mRNA translation. The stop codon and its downstream sequence optimization allowed eliminating the side product synthesis. The optimized expression system, purification protocol, and post-translational modification procedure yielded 1.5mg of SS14 per liter of minimal medium. Nearly 99% incorporation of 13C and 15N isotopes was achieved, as demonstrated by high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Neuropeptide Substance-P Modulates Electrical Characteristics of Rabbit Atrial Myocytes

Background: The cardiac nervous system plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). Besides the classical neurotransmitters, the nerves innervating the atria also release a wide range of neuropeptides that may play a role in the pathophysiology of AF. Since the direct effect of these neuropeptides on atrial myocytes is largely unknown, we investigated the electrophysiological response of atrial myocytes to several neuropeptides, importantly substance-P (Sub-P).Methods and Results: Single left atrial myocytes from rabbit hearts were obtained by enzymatic dissociation and the effects of Sub-P, neuropeptide-Y (NPY), somatostatin-14 (SOM-14) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), were studied using patch-clamp and indo-1 fluorescence methodologies. NPY, SOM-14 and VIP (1 μM) did not affect atrial action potential (AP) characteristics. Sub-P however, reduced both resting membrane potential (RMP) and action potential amplitude, and increased action potential duration at 90% of repolarisation (APD90) by 40%. The effects on APD90 were dose-dependent and occurred from a concentration of 10 nM. Voltage-clamp analysis revealed that Sub-P significantly diminished L-type calcium current, inward rectifier K+ current (IK1) and an unknown steady-state outward current. Transient outward current, Ca2+- activated chloride current and Na+-Ca2+-exchanger current were unaffected, as was the intracellular calcium handling. The reduction in RMP and increase in APD90 are likely due to the decrease in IK1 and steady-state outward current, respectively. Our experiments indicate that the latter is probably carried by background-like potassium channels.Conclusion: Atrial myocyte electrophysiology is significantly modulated by the neuropeptide Sub-P, mainly characterized by a substantial AP prolongation due to inhibition of a background potassium current. Since lengthening of atrial repolarization is potentially anti-arrhythmic, we hypothesize that release of Sub-P may be beneficial to the prevention and/or termination of AF.

Effect of Ingested Nutrients on the Release of Thrittene into the Human Circulation

Thrittene is a recently described peptide with a sequence homologous with somatostatin-28 ((1-13)) but is produced independent of the preprosomatostatin gene. It is localized in epithelial cells in stomach and gut mucosal crypts and in neuronal cell bodies in the myenteric plexus and enteric axons. It is also present in human plasma. The aim of this study was to determine whether the release of thrittene into the circulation was affected by the ingestion of nutrients and, if so, whether the pattern of release was distinct from the closely related peptide somatostatin-28 (S-28). Thrittene was indirectly measured in human plasma by an RIA using antiserum F4. F4 interacts with the Asn(5)-Pro(6) region shared by S-28 and thrittene. The contribution of S-28 to F4 immunoreactivity (F4-IR) was determined using a specific two-site assay, and this measure was subtracted from the total F4-IR to give an estimate of thrittene levels. Plasma for assay was taken from healthy men on 4 separate days before and after intake of: a mixed meal (715 kcal), and meals containing primarily fat (25 g; 225 kcal), carbohydrate (100 g; 454 kcal), and protein (22 g; 100 kcal). After the mixed meal, both S-28 and thrittene rose by 50-100% within 30 min and gradually declined by 4 h. These increments were mimicked after ingestion of fat. By contrast, thrittene levels increased after carbohydrate but not protein intake, whereas S-28 concentrations rose after protein but not carbohydrate ingestion. These findings indicate that thrittene is secreted into the mammalian circulation during food intake and raise the possibility that thrittene may play a role in nutrient disposition. The dichotomy in responses of thrittene and S-28 to ingestion of the major macronutrients suggests that they are secreted from different gastrointestinal cells.

Somatostatin-28 regulates GLP-1 secretion via somatostatin receptor subtype 5 in rat intestinal cultures.

Five somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) bind somatostatin-14 (S-14) and somatostatin-28 (S-28), but SSTR5 has the highest affinity for S-28. To determine whether S-28 acting through SSTR5 mediates inhibition of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), fetal rat intestinal cell cultures were treated with somatostatin analogs with relatively high specificity for SSTRs 2-5. S-28 dose-dependently inhibited GLP-1 secretion stimulated by gastrin-releasing peptide more potently than S-14 (EC(50) 0.01 vs. 5.8 nM). GLP-1 secretion was inhibited by an SSTR5 analog, BIM-23268, more potently than S-14 and nearly as effectively as S-28. The SSTR5 analog L-372,588 also suppressed GLP-1 secretion equivalent to S-28, but a structurally similar peptide, L-362,855 (Tyr to Phe at position 7), was ineffective. An SSTR2-selective analog was less effective than S-28, and an SSTR3 analog was inactive. Separate treatment with GLP-1-(7-36)-NH(2) increased S-28 and S-14 secretion by three- and fivefold; BIM-23268 abolished S-28 without altering S-14, whereas the SSTR2 analog was inactive. The results indicate that somatostatin regulation of GLP-1 secretion occurs via S-28 through activation of SSTR5. GLP-1-stimulated S-28 secretion is also autoregulated by SSTR5 activation, suggesting a feedback loop between GLP-1 and S-28 modulated by SSTR5.

Thrittene, Homologous with Somatostatin-28(1–13), Is a Novel Peptide in Mammalian Gut and Circulation

Preprosomatostatin is a gene expressed ubiquitously among vertebrates, and at least two duplications of this gene have occurred during evolution. Somatostatin-28 (S-28) and somatostatin-14 (S-14), C-terminal products of prosomatostatin (ProS), are differentially expressed in mammalian neurons, D cells, and enterocytes. One pathway for the generation of S-14 entails the excision of Arg13-Lys14 in S-28, leading to equivalent amounts of S-28((1-12)). Using an antiserum (F-4), directed to the N-terminal region of S-28 that does not react with S-28((1-12)), we detected a peptide, in addition to S-28 and ProS, that was present in human plasma and in the intestinal tract of rats and monkeys. This F-4 reacting peptide was purified from monkey ileum; and its amino acid sequence, molecular mass, and chromatographic characteristics conformed to those of S-28((1-13)), a peptide not described heretofore. When extracts of the small intestine were measured by RIA, there was a discordance in the ratio of peptides reacting with F-4 and those containing the C terminus of ProS, suggesting sites of synthesis for S-28((1-13)) distinct from those for S-14 and S-28. This was supported by immunocytochemistry, wherein F-4 reactivity was localized in gastrointestinal (GI) endocrine cells and a widespread plexus of neurons within the wall of the distal gut while immunoreactivity to C-terminal domains of S-14 and S-28 in these neurons was absent. Further, F-4 immunoreactivity persisted in similar GI endocrine cells and myenteric neurons in mice with a targeted deletion of the preprosomatostatin gene. We believe that these data suggest a novel peptide produced in the mammalian gut, homologous with the 13 residues of the proximal region of S-28 but not derived from the ProS gene. Pending characterization of the gene from which this peptide is derived, its distribution, and function, we have designated this peptide as thrittene. Its localization in both GI endocrine cells and gut neurons suggests that thrittene may function as both a hormone and neurotransmitter.

The somatostatin-28(1-12)-NPAMAP sequence: an essential helical-promoting motif governing prosomatostatin processing at mono- and dibasic sites.

Proline residues, known to have special structural properties, induce particular conformations which participate in some biological functions. Two prolines (Pro(-9), Pro(-5)) located near the processing sites (Arg(-15) and Arg(-2)Lys(-)(1)) of human prosomatostatin were previously shown to be important for cleavage of the precursor into somatostatin-28 (S-28) and somatostatin-14 (S-14) [Gomez et al. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 2911-2916]. In this study, the importance of the pentapeptide P-A-M-A-P sequence (P-(X)(3)-P pattern), located in the S-28(1-12) segment connecting the mono- and dibasic cleavage sites, was investigated by using site-directed mutagenesis. Analysis of prosomatostatin-derived peptides produced by expression of mutated cDNA species in Neuro2A cells indicated that (i) deletion of PAMAP decreased S-14 production, (ii) deletion of the two Pro residues almost abolished the cleavage at the dibasic site, and (iii) Pro displacement generating the AMAPP motif resulted in a decrease of S-28 production. Moreover, both theoretical and spectroscopic studies of synthetic peptides reproducing the S-28(1-12) sequence bearing critical mutations showed that this sequence can organize as an alpha helical structure. These observations demonstrate that NPAMAP constitutes an accurate alpha-helix nucleation motif allowing for the generation of equal amounts of S-28 and S-14 from their common precursor in Neuro2A cells. Moreover, they emphasize the importance of the S-28(1-12) segment joining Arg(-15) and Arg(-2)Lys(-1) cleavage sites whose conformational organization is essential for controlling their accessibility to the appropriate processing proteases.

Implicación de los neuropéptidos metionina­encefalina, neurotensina y somatostatina del núcleo caudal del trigémino en la migraña experimental

Primary peptidergic sensory neurons of the trigeminal ganglion that innervate the cerebral dura have been involved in the pathogenesis of headache, including the migraine. In addition, it is known that nociceptive central processes of the trigeminal neurons terminate in the caudal trigeminal nucleus. Moreover, the electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion has been used as an experimental model in order to study the vascular headache, including the migraine. To study whether there is or not a decrease of the immunoreactivity for methionine enkephalin, somatostatin and neurotensin in the caudal trigeminal nucleus after electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion. The trigeminal ganglia of Wistar albino rats of both sexes were electrically stimulated (frequency, 5 Hz; duration, 5 ms; intensity, 0,8 1.4 mA) and unilaterally for five minutes. Sections of the medulla oblongata containing the caudal trigeminal nucleus were obtained and processed for immunocytochemistry, in which specific antibodies were used against methionine enkephalin, neurotensin and somatostatin 28. In stimulated animals, we observed a decrease in the immunoreactivity for the three neuropeptides studied in the stimulated (ipsilateral) side, in comparison with the not stimulated side (contralateral). In control animals (not stimulated) the degree of the immunoreactivity was the same on both sides. 1. The decrease of the immunoreactivity in the ipsilateral side (stimulated) suggests that methionine enkephalin, neurotensin and somatostatin 28 are released in the caudal trigeminal nucleus after electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion; 2. Methionine enkephalin and somatostatin 28 could act in the caudal trigeminal nucleus as inhibitors (with antinociceptive action) of another released exciters neuropeptides (with nociceptive action); and 3. These data will allow in the future to try new therapeutic strategies (e.g., the inhibition of the receptors implicated.), in order to alleviate certain headaches.

Effect of Somatostatins and Insulin on Blood Glucose Levels of Larvae and Metamorphosing Landlocked Sea Lamprey, Petromyzon marinus

We examined the effects of insulin (INS) and somatostatin 14 (SS-14) on glycemic regulation in larval and metamorphosing landlocked sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with either (Experiment 1) saline (0.6%), somatostatin-14 (SS-14; 50 or 500 ng/g body weight), insulin (INS; 10 or 100 ng/g body weight), or alloxan (20 or 200 μg/g body weight), or with (Experiment 2) normal rabbit serum, anti-SS-14, anti-lamprey SS-34 or anti-lamprey INS. Somatostatin-14 (500 ng/g) increased plasma glucose levels in larvae. Injection of anti-SS-14 and anti-lamprey SS-34 resulted in hypoglycemia compared to the controls. Insulin (100 ng/g) resulted in hypoglycemia in both larvae and stage 6 metamorphosing lamrpey. Acute insufficiency of lamprey INS in larvae treated with anti-lamprey INS elevated plasma glucose levels. Similarly, alloxan (200 μg/g, a cytotoxin of insulin-secreting cells) resulted in hyperglycemia in larvae. These data indicate that SS-14 is hyperglycemic in sea lamprey, whereas INS is hypoglycemic, and suggest that the glucoregulatory roles of SS-14 and INS emerged early during the evolution of vertebrates.

Somatostatin receptor subtype-5 mediates inhibition of peptide YY secretion from rat intestinal cultures.

Somatostatin-14 (S-14) and somatostatin-28 (S-28) bind to five distinct membrane receptors (SSTRs), but S-28 has higher affinity for SSTR-5. Whether S-28 acting through SSTR-5 regulates inhibition of peptide YY (PYY) secretion was tested in fetal rat intestinal cell cultures. S-28 and S-14 caused dose-dependent inhibition of PYY secretion stimulated by gastrin-releasing peptide, but S-28 was more potent than S-14 (EC(50) 0.04 vs. 13.2 nM). PYY was inhibited by two analogs with affinity for SSTR-5, BIM-23268 and BIM-23052, more potently than S-14 and as effectively as S-28. The SSTR-5 analog L-362855 suppressed PYY equivalent only to S-14, but the structurally related peptide L-372588 (Phe to Tyr at position 2) was equipotent to S-28, whereas L-372587 (Phe to Tyr at position 7) caused no inhibition. An SSTR-2 analog decreased PYY secretion similar to S-14, and an SSTR-3 analog was ineffective. PYY secretion stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and by forskolin was also more potently suppressed by S-28 and the octapeptide SSTR-5 analogs. The results indicate that S-28 mediates inhibition of gastrin-releasing peptide-stimulated PYY secretion through activation of SSTR-5 and includes suppression of cAMP- and protein kinase C-dependent pathways. Substitution of a single hydroxyl group confers differences in SSTR-5 agonist properties, suggesting region specificity for the intrinsic activity of this receptor subtype.

Insulin secretion and intestinal peptides during lactation in sheep.

Intravenous infusions of glucose and/or glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)-amide (GLP) or somatostatin-28 (S28) were administered to dry and lactating sheep and changes in plasma glucose and serum insulin were followed before, during and after infusion. Basal serum insulin concentrations were significantly lower in lactating sheep but there was no significant difference in plasma glucose concentrations. During glucose infusion, changes in serum insulin concentrations were diminished by comparison with those in dry animals. GLP stimulated insulin secretion during hyperglycaemia in both dry and lactating sheep but, proportionately, the response was significantly greater in the lactating animals. S28 inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in both dry and lactating sheep and there was no significant difference in the extent of the inhibition between the two physiological states. S28 infusion also inhibited the secretion of GLP from the intestinal tract and this effect was significantly greater in the lactating animals. The results demonstrate a difference in response in the lactating animal to GLP compared with S28. A possible explanation of the difference is a decreased sensitivity (i.e. increased Km) of the pancreas to the insulinotropic effects of GLP but an increased sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of S28 at tissues other than the pancreas in lactation.

Nutrient and peptide regulation of somatostatin-28 secretion from intestinal cultures.

Of the two known forms of intestinal somatostatin, somatostatin-28 (S28) and S14, S28 predominates in the distal mucosa, whereas S14 is localized in the foregut. Although S14 release has been well studied, little is known about the factors regulating secretion of S28 from the intestine. Therefore, fetal rat intestinal cultures, which have been previously demonstrated to synthesize and secrete predominantly S28, were treated with potential nutrient, neuromodulator/transmitter, and peptide secretagogues (n = 4-6/experiment). Oleic acid dose dependently stimulated the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) to 272 +/- 81% of the control value at 1.5 x 10(-4) M (P < 0.01). Gel permeation analysis (n = 3) demonstrated that this increment was accounted for not only by an increase in the release of S28, but also by an increase in that of S14, such that the secretion of both peptides was increased in parallel. Of the neuromodulators tested, only the enteric peptide gastrin-releasing peptide stimulated intestinal SLI secretion, to 386 +/- 60% of the control value at 10(-6) M (P < 0.001); similar to oleic acid, the effects on S28 and S14 were equivalent. Galanin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, bethanechol, and epinephrine did not affect SLI release. The duodenal hormone secretin also stimulated SLI release to 310 +/- 78% of the control value at 10(-6) M (P < 0.001); however, secretin caused a preferential release of S14 over that of S28 (S14, 7.8 +/- 2.8-fold; S28, 1.5 +/- 0.1-fold). In contrast, gastrin, cholecystokinin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, neurotensin, peptide YY, epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor-alpha had no effect on intestinal SLI release. Thus, luminal nutrients and neuro/endocrine peptides exert differential effects on S28 release from the rat intestine compared with those on S14. These findings implicate S28 as a distinct regulatory peptide in the physiological setting.

Endogenous somatostatin-28 modulates postprandial insulin secretion. Immunoneutralization studies in baboons.

Somatostatin-28 (S-28), secreted into the circulation from enterocytes after food, and S-14, released mainly from gastric and pancreatic D cells and enteric neurons, inhibit peripheral cellular functions. We hypothesized that S-28 is a humoral regulator of pancreatic B cell function during nutrient absorption. Consistent with this postulate, we observed in baboons a two to threefold increase in portal and peripheral levels of S-28 after meals, with minimal changes in S-14. We attempted to demonstrate a hormonal effect of these peptides by measuring their concentrations before and after infusing a somatostatin-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) into baboons and comparing glucose, insulin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels before and for 4 h after intragastric nutrients during a control study and on 2 d after mAb administration (days 1 and 2). Basal growth hormone (GH) and glucagon levels and parameters of insulin and glucose kinetics were also measured. During immunoneutralization, we found that (a) postprandial insulin levels were elevated on days 1 and 2; (b) GH levels rose immediately and were sustained for 28 h, while glucagon fell; (c) basal insulin levels were unchanged on day 1 but were increased two to threefold on day 2, coincident with decreased insulin sensitivity; and (d) plasma glucose concentrations were similar to control values. We attribute the eventual rise in fasting levels of insulin to its enhanced secretion in compensation for the heightened insulin resistance from increased GH action. Based on the elevated postmeal insulin levels after mAb administration, we conclude that S-28 participates in the enteroinsular axis as a decretin to regulate postprandial insulin secretion.

Predominant basolateral proteolytic processing of prosomatostatin into somatostatin-28 in polarized LLC-PK 1 cells

Polarized epithelial cells secrete specific proteins through their apical or basolateral membrane. In the present study, we have expressed the human prosomatostatin cDNA in the pig kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK 1) and monitored the processing and release of the somatostatin-related peptides. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay of the somatostatin-related peptides synthesized by the transfected cells showed that the LLC-PK 1 cells released prosomatostatin and somatostatin-28 (S-28) in the culture medium. Furthermore, when the cells were polarized, we observed release of prosomatostatin from both membrane domains (apical and basolateral), while liberation of S-28 was mostly from the basolateral side. This observation suggests that, in these cells, the proprotein convertase(s) responsible for prosomatostatin processing is(are) associated with the basolateral secretory pathway.

Effects of somatostatin-28 on circulating concentrations of insulin and gut hormones in sheep.

The effects of intravenous somatostatin-28 (S28) infusion on glucose-stimulated and glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide (GLP-1)-augmented insulin secretion were studied in sheep. S28 was infused via a jugular catheter for 15 min at a rate of 1.1 pmol/kg/min either alone or together with GLP-1 and/or glucose. S28 infusion did not significantly lower circulating basal insulin concentrations in fed sheep. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly inhibited by S28 infusion, serum concentrations decreasing from about 200 to 150 pmol/l. GLP-1 significantly augmented glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, serum concentrations increasing from about 230 to 280 pmol/l. S28 completely counteracted this effect of GLP-1. S28 infusion also significantly decreased the circulating concentrations of glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 in fed sheep (from about 110 to 45 pmol/l for GIP and from about 25 to 15 pmol/l for GLP-1). The physiological implications of these observations are discussed with particular reference to the ruminant. It is concluded that S28 may have an important endocrine role in the control of insulin secretion and regulation of nutrient partitioning.

81 Preparative isolation of intact 650 kb YAC-APP genomic DNA containing the Swedish amyloid precursor protein 670/671 mutation

By using immune sera which recognize one or more of the 3 peptides, somatostatin 14 (SS14), somatostatin-28 (SS28) and somatostatin-281–12) (SS281–12) we have characterized their immunohistochemical distribution in the hippocampal formation. There exist at least two independent neuronal systems containing pro-somatostatin-related peptides: an intrinsic system of cells in the polymorphic layers which branch locally, and a dense terminal field in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus that may constitute a portion of the entorhinal-dentate projection. In addition, SS28 is the dominant form present in cell bodies, whereas SS281–12 is preferentially localized in neuronal processes and terminals. We could not detect SS14 immunohistochemically.

Identification of a Critical Aspartate Residue in Transmembrane Domain Three Necessary for the Binding of Somatostatin to the Somatostatin Receptor SSTR2

To determine which residues within the rat somatostatin receptor subtype SSTR2 may be interacting with the lys9 of somatostatin-14 (S-14), mutant SSTR2 receptors were created by mutating asp89 or asp122. [125I Tyr11]S-14 binding to D89A and D89E mutants suggests that asp89 is not directly involved in S-14 binding. Binding studies with the charge switch mutants, asp9S-14 and D122K, suggest that asp122 may be interacting with the lys9 of S-14. [125I Tyr11]asp9S-14 displayed saturable binding to D122K with an affinity comparable to that seen with [125I Tyr11]S-14 and WT SSTR2. These data suggest that the interaction between lys9 of S-14 and the TM3 asp122 of SSTR2 represents one contact site between S-14 and SSTR2.

Effect of somatostatin on the mass accumulation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate in rat hypothalamus, striatum, frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus

Somatostatin-14 (SS) significantly increased inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP 3) accumulation in rat hypothalamic, striatal, frontoparietal cortical and hippocampal slices. However, this stimulation of IP 3 accumulation by SS was highest in the frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus. The effect was already significant with 0.01 μM in the frontoparietal cortex ( P < 0.05) and hippocampus ( P < 0.05) and the maximal accumulation was evident with 0.1 μM SS, in all areas studied. A concentration of 1 μM SS, lacked this effect in hypothalamus and striatum. SS rapidly increased IP 3 accumulation in all brain areas studied. This effect was maximal at 15 s of incubation and decreased subsequently. At 60 s incubation, levels were still elevated in frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus but had returned to basal values in hypothalamus and striatum. Somatostatin-28 (SS-28) and the SS analogues, d-Trp 8- d-Cys 14 and SMS 201–995, also significantly stimulated IP 3 accumulation although the effect of SMS 201–995 was greater than that of SS in the striatum in comparison with controls ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that SS action at the hypothalamus, striatum, frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus is mediated at least in part by the accumulation of IP 3, which may initiate intracellular processes responsible for some biological SS effects.

Comparative proteolytic processing of rat prosomatostatin by the convertases PC1, PC2, furin, PACE4 and PC5 in constitutive and regulated secretory pathways

Recombinant vaccinia virus vectors were used to coexpress each of the candidate prohormone convertases PC1, PC2, furin, PACE4 and PC5 with rat prosomatostatin (rProSOM) in the constitutive secreting cell line LoVo and in the endocrine corticotroph cell line AtT-20, which exhibits regulated secretion. Mammalian ProSOM is cleaved at a dibasic Arg-Lys↓ site to produce somatostatin-14 (S-14) and at a monobasic Gln-Arg↓ site to yield somatostatin-28 (S-28). The analysis of processed products by gel-permeation high performance liquid chromatography shows that in LoVo cells PC1, furin and PACE4 generate S-14, S-28 and a mixture of S-14 and S-28, respectively, while PC2 is unable to process ProSOM in these constitutive cells. In contrast, PC2 can generate S-14 in AtT-20 cells. The convertase PC5 is unable to process ProSOM in either cell line. These data suggest that PC2, PC1 and PACE4 are candidate S-14 convertases, while PACE4 and furin are candidate S-28 convertases.