Big gastrin explained

Big gastrin (G-34) is a form of gastrin with 34 amino acids in its sequence. Big gastrin is a hormone produced by G cells and can be found inside of the stomach.^[1] G-34 promotes the secretion of gastric acid in dogs.^[2] In dogs, the half life of this peptide is between 14.7 and 16.8 minutes.^[3] In humans, an over production of this hormone by gastrinomas leads to Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.^[4]

Big Gastrin Responses to Foods:

Big gastrin (G34) is one form of gastrin predominate in circulation after a meal, another major form is called little gastrin (G17). Both forms of gastrin have been isolated from human gastrinoma and hog antral mucosa.^[5] G34 is carboxy-amidated and can be sulphated or unsulphated at the tyrosine residues.^[6] Binding of gastrin to the receptors in stomach can cause the secretion of hydrochloric acids (HCl), the gastric acid.^[7] Duodenal ulcer patients tend to have higher than normal basal and maximal rate of gastric acid secretion, while gastric ulcer patients have lower than normal basal and maximal of gastric acid output.^[8] Comparing G34 in normal and peptic ulcer subjects by using radioimmunoassay in fasting serum and after feeding, basal G34 was found similar in normal and duodenal ulcer but raised in gastric ulcer before meal. After a meal, the concentration of G34 was increased in both duodenal ulcer patients and gastric ulcer patients, which significantly higher than normal people.

Notes and References

1. Book: Johnson, Gareth J.. Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2nd edition)2007235Edited by Richard Cammack and others. Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2nd edition) . Oxford: Oxford University Press 2006. Xv+720 pp., ISBN: 978 0 19 852917 0 £49.95 $89.50 . 2007-06-19. 978-0-19-852917-0. Reference Reviews. 21. 5. 41–42. 10.1108/09504120710755635. 0950-4125.
2. 10.1172/JCI107783. 4847254. 301575. 1974. Walsh. J. H. Pure human big gastrin. Immunochemical properties, disappearance half time, and acid-stimulating action in dogs. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 54. 2. 477–85. Debas. H. T. Grossman. M. I.
3. Walsh. John H.. Debas. Haile T.. Grossman. Morton I.. 1974-08-01. Pure Human Big Gastrin IMMUNOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, DISAPPEARANCE HALF TIME, AND ACID-STIMULATING ACTION IN DOGS. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 54. 2. 480. 10.1172/jci107783. 4847254. 0021-9738. 301575.
4. Book: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (U.S.). Digestive diseases dictionary.. 2009. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 44203071.
5. Gregory. R.A.. Tracy. H.J.. 1964. The constitution and properties of two gastrins extracted from hog antral mucosa. Part 1.. The Isolation of Two Gastrins from Hog Antral Mucosa. Gut 5, 103–115.
6. I.L.. Taylor. G.J.. Dockary. J.. Calam. R.J.. Walker. 1979. Big and little gastrin responses to food in normal and ulcer subjects. Gut . 20 . 11 . Department of Physiology. University of Liverpool, and The Gastrointestinal Unit, Walton Hospital, Liverpool. Gut, 957–962. 10.1136/gut.20.11.957 . 527872 . 1412672 .
7. Abdul M.. CHOUDHURY. George W.. KENNER †. Stanley. MOORE. Kuzhalmannan L.. RAMACHANDRAN. Warwick D.. THORPE. Robert. RAMAGE. Graham J.. DOCKRAY. 1980. N-Terminal Sequence of Human Big Gastrin: Sequence, Synthetic and Immunochemical Studies. 361: Issue 2.
8. Wormsley. K. G.. Grossman. M.I.. 1965. Maximal histolog test in control subjects and patients with peptic ulcer.. Gut, 6, 427–435.