Promotion of Activation of Pepsinogen by Polyanions Including RNA and Sulfated Mucosubstances 1

Abstract

Summary

Heparin, RNA, a sulfated glycoprotein from human gastric juice, and chondroitin 4-sulfate promote activation of pepsinogen. Heparin and RNA are about twice as effective as the sulfated glycoprotein and chondroitin 4-sulfate in promoting activation. The promotion of activation of pepsinogen is pH dependent. The pH for maximum promotion of activation by RNA was approximately pH 4.0.

We express our appreciation to the medical students in the elective research group who participated in some of the preliminary experiments on the interactions of polyanions and pepsinogen.