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Widespread tissue expression of gastrin-binding-protein mRNA
H J Monstein1, A G Nylander, R Häkanson
1Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden.
European Journal of Biochemistry
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Gastrin-binding protein, implicated in colorectal cancer growth, is widely expressed but shares sequence identity with a fatty acid oxidation enzyme. This suggests it may not be a true gastrin receptor.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Glycine-extended gastrin (gastrin-Gly) is hypothesized to drive colorectal cancer growth via autocrine signaling.
- A gastrin-binding protein was recently proposed as a potential receptor for gastrin-Gly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and sequence of gastrin-binding protein.
- To determine if gastrin-binding protein functions as a gastrin-Gly receptor in colorectal cancer.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot analysis to detect gastrin-binding-protein mRNA expression across various tissues.
- Reverse-transcribed PCR (RT-PCR) to confirm mRNA expression.
- cDNA and amino acid sequence analysis of amplified rat gastrin-binding-protein DNA fragments.
Main Results:
- Gastrin-binding-protein mRNA was detected in numerous tissues from mice, rats, and humans.
- Sequence analysis revealed high identity between rat, human, and pig gastrin-binding protein.
- The protein sequence showed significant similarity to the alpha-subunit of a mitochondrial trifunctional enzyme involved in fatty acid oxidation.
Conclusions:
- The widespread tissue distribution and sequence homology with a metabolic enzyme challenge the role of gastrin-binding protein as a specific gastrin receptor.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise function of gastrin-binding protein and its potential involvement in cancer.