Characteristics of a somatostatin-binding protein.

The concentrations of a somatostatin-binding protein, found in the cytosol of a number of rat tissues, are similar in both sexes, and hypophysectomy has little or no effect on the level of binding protein in tissue extracts. On the other hand, streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus causes a modest decrease. The somatostatin-binding proteins obtained from extracts of several rat tissues are not only similar in molecular weight but also exhibit a similar isoelectric point and electrophoretic mobility. Agents that block thiol groups or prevent the formation of disulfide bridges markedly decrease the binding of somatostatin to the cytoplasmic protein. Studies using thiol reagents and gel filtration suggest that free thiol groups in somatostatin-binding protein are important for the binding of somatostatin.