BIOSYNTHETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF BIG AND LITTLE GASTRINS

ACCUMULATING evidence suggests that many peptide hormones are synthesised initially as part of larger precursor molecules1. There is also evidence that several different peptides, for example, corticotrophin, β lipotrophin, the melanotrophins and the endorphins may arise from a single precursor molecule which is processed differently in different secretory systems2. The post-translational processing of large precursors would therefore seem to play a regulatory role in determining the biological activity of the final secretory product. We have examined the relationships between the principal biologically active forms of the hormone gastrin in porcine antral mucosa. © 1978 Nature Publishing Group.