BESTATIN, A MICROBIAL AMINOPEPTIDASE INHIBITOR, INHIBITS DNA SYNTHESIS INDUCED BY INSULIN OR EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR IN PRIMARY CULTURED RAT HEPATOCYTES

Abstract

Bestatin, a microbial aminopeptidase inhibitor, inhibited insulin- or epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in primary cultured hepatocytes of rats. The aminopeptidase inhibitor also affected the growth of FM3A or LOBN cells of mice, when it is included in the culture media at the concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. These results suggest the important role of the bestatin-sensitive aminopeptidase(s) in the process of DNA synthesis and proliferation of animal cells.