TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF RAT INTESTINAL ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME AND DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE-IV BY A HIGH PROLINE DIET

A high proline diet (50% gelatin) was found to induce a 3-8 fold incre ase in the activity of rat small intestinal angiotensin-converting enz yme and dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Induction was also accompanied by a i ncrease in steady state levels of enzyme mRNA. It was observed that th e rate of gene transcription for these two enzymes is increased to lev els corresponding to the changes in their mRNA. These results indicate for the first time that dietary components can influence the expressi on of various intestinal brush border membrane hydrolases at the level of gene transcription.