Gastric proteases in the human infant

Biol Neonate. 1987;52(5):268-72. doi: 10.1159/000242719.

Abstract

The electrophoretic mobilities of proteases present in gastric juice taken within 10 h of birth from 5 healthy, premature infants were compared with calf chymosin, pig pepsin A and human adult gastric juice. The juice from 2 infants contained predominantly a chymosin-like enzyme, another had almost exclusively pepsins similar to those of the adult juice, while the other two contained a mixture of both. The pepsins consisted of two elements, probably pepsin A (EC 3.4.23.1), and pepsin C (EC 3.4.23.3). Single radial immunodiffusion gave a definite reaction to calf anti-chymosin serum in five samples taken from a further 17 infants. These results indicate that some human infants secrete chymosin. The reaction in the immunodiffusion assay indicated a much lower enzyme activity than that implied from electrophoretic separations. It is suggested that species differences resulted in poor cross-reactivity of the antiserum.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Chymosin / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
  • Gastric Juice / enzymology*
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Immunodiffusion
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pepsin A / metabolism
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Pepsin A
  • gastricsin
  • Chymosin