Cholecystokinin receptors. Wank, Stephen A. Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1804
APStracts 2:0168G, 1995.
The cholecystokinin and gastrin families of peptides act as hormones and neuropeptides on central and peripheral CCK receptors to mediate secretion and motility in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in the physiologic response to a normal meal. CCK and it's receptors are also widely distributed in the central nervous system and contribute to the regulation of satiey, anxiety, analgesia and dopamine-mediated behavior. Although the wide distribution, myriad number of functions and reported pharmacological heterogeneity of CCK receptors would suggest a large number of receptor subyptes, the application of modern molecular biological techniques has identified two cholecystokinin receptors, CCKAR and CCKBR, that mediate the actions of CCK and gastrin, having found that gastrin receptors are identical to CCKBRs. CCKARs, found predominantly in the GI system and select areas of the CNS, have high affinity for CCK and the nonpeptide antagonist, L-364,718 while CCKBRs, found predominantly in the CNS and select areas of the GI system have high affinity for CCK and gastrin and the nonpeptide antagonist, L365,260. Both CCKAR and CCKBR are highly conserved between species although there is some tissue specific variation in expression. Recombinant receptor expression faithfully reproduces the native receptor pharmacology and signal transduction pathways allowing direct comparisons of receptor function between species as well as a convenient source of receptor. Our present knowledge of the chromosomal localization, receptor gene structure and primary sequence will allow further studies in disease association, receptor regulation and structure-function analysis.

Received 7 August 1995; accepted in final form 8 August 1995.
APS Manuscript Number G331-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 24 August 1995.