Bestatin as an Experimental Tool in Mammals

Authors: Scornik O.A.; Botbol V.

Source: Current Drug Metabolism, Volume 2, Number 1, March 2001 , pp. 67-85(19)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Bestatin, an antibiotic of microbial origin, is a potent inhibitor of some, but not all aminopeptidases. It can be administered, with low toxicity, to cultured cells, intact animals and humans. It has become a useful tool in elucidating the physiological role of some mammalian exopeptidases in the regulation of the immune system, in the growth of tumors and their invasion of surrounding tissues, and in the degradation of cellular proteins. Bestatin-sensitive enzymes play important roles in the digestion and absorption of peptides in the brush border of the intestine and the kidney, in the reproductive system, and in the metabolism of opioid peptides and leukotrienes. Aminopeptidase N emerges as the major target for the effects of bestatin on the immune system and some of its effects on tumor growth and the endometrium. It is also the major bestatin-sensitive enzyme involved in the degradation of oligopeptides on the surface of intestine and kidney brush borders, and the inactivation of enkephalins in the brain. Bestatin-sensitive cytosolic exopeptidases are important in the degradation to amino acids of di- and tripeptides generated in most cells by cellular protein degradation, as well as those absorbed through the brush border of intestine and kidney. Inhibition of one of these exopeptidases, cytosol alanine aminopeptidase, results in apoptosis. Bestatin-sensitive cystinyl aminopeptidase is abundant in placenta. Two bestatin-sensitive enzymes, aminopeptidase B and nardilysin, are particularly abundant in late spermatids. Finally bestatin-sensitive LTA4 hydrolase generates the potent chemotactic agent, LTB4.

Keywords: Bestati; aminopeptidases; oligopeptides; enkephalins; bestatin sensitive LTA4 hydrolase; chemotactic agent LTB4; IMMUNE SYSTEM; ANTITUMOR EFFECTS OF BESTATIN; PROTEINDEGRADATION; LEUKOTRIENE METABOLISM

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389200013338748

Publication date: 2001-03-01

• Current Drug Metabolism aims to cover all the latest and outstanding developments in drug metabolism and disposition. The journal serves as an international forum for the publication of timely reviews in drug metabolism. Current Drug Metabolism is an essential journal for academic, clinical, government and pharmaceutical scientists who wish to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments. The journal covers the following areas:
  
  In vitro systems including CYP-450; enzyme induction and inhibition; drug-drug interactions and enzyme kinetics; pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics, species scaling and extrapolations; P-glycoprotein and transport carriers; target organ toxicity and interindividual variability; drug metabolism and disposition studies; extrahepatic metabolism; phase I and phase II metabolism; recent developments for the identification of drug metabolites and adducts.

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• In this Subject: Anatomy & Physiology ,  Pharmacology
• By this author: Scornik O.A. ;  Botbol V.

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