The importance of the C-terminal amide structure of rat pancreastatin to inhibit pancreatic exocrine secretion.

A C-terminal fragment of rat pancreatatin, a 26 residue peptide amide and a fragment without a C-terminal amide were synthesized by Fmoc-based solid phase methods and their biological activities were compared. The rat C-terminal fragment inhibited pancreatic exocrine secretions produced by the intravenous injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (a central vagal nerve stimulation), whereas the fragment without a C-terminal amide showed no effect on pancreas. These results indicate that the C-terminal amide of this peptide is necessary to reveal its biological activity.