A novel tripeptide, Phe-Arg-Arg, was found to exert a potent, insulin-mimetic inhibitory action on lysosomal proteolysis in the Langendorff-perfused rat heart. This tripeptide was synthesized based upon its partial structural analogy to the biguanide anti-hyperglycaemic agent, phenformin (phenylethylbiguanide), which has previously been found to exert a Zn(2+)-dependent inhibitory action on lysosomal proteolysis. Hearts were biosynthetically labelled with [3H]leucine in vitro. The percentage change in subsequent release of [3H]leucine (2 mM non-radioactive leucine) was determined in non-recirculating perfusate. The background Zn2+ content of the perfusate was determined to be 20 nM. Major endogenous Zn2+ buffers were present in molar excess of Zn2+: 0.1 mM citrate, 0.2% BSA, and complete physiological amino acids. Infusion of maximally effective levels of chloroquine (30 microM) or insulin (5 nM) caused a 38% inhibition of total proteolysis, which corresponds to the lysosomal subcomponent. In the presence of background levels of perfusate Zn2+ the infusion of Phe-Arg-Arg (10 microM), insulin (5 nM), or phenformin (2 microM) maximally caused a 39% inhibition of [3H]leucine release. Combined infusion of maximally effective levels of insulin and Phe-Arg-Arg, or maximal levels of chloroquine and Phe-Arg-Arg did not cause additive inhibition of [3H]leucine release greater than the 39% inhibition caused by either agent alone, regardless of the order of infusion. Addition of physiological concentrations of Zn2+ (1 microM) to the background perfusate Zn2+ accelerated the insulin-mimetic action of submaximally effective levels of Phe-Arg-Arg, and increased its potency. Prior chelation of background Zn2+ by a 3 h perfusion with CaNa2 EDTA (2 microM) reversibly delayed the time course of Phe-Arg-Arg action and decreased its potency at submaximal concentrations.
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August 1993
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Research Article|
August 01 1993
Phenylalaninylargininylarginine: a novel tripeptide exerting Zn2+-dependent, insulin-mimetic inhibitory action on myocardial proteolysis
L Zhang
;
L Zhang
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, U.S.A.
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T D Lockwood
T D Lockwood
2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, U.S.A.
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Biochem J (1993) 293 (3): 801–805.
Citation
L Zhang, T D Lockwood; Phenylalaninylargininylarginine: a novel tripeptide exerting Zn2+-dependent, insulin-mimetic inhibitory action on myocardial proteolysis. Biochem J 1 August 1993; 293 (3): 801–805. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj2930801
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