THE G-CELL

The study of gastrin continues to serve as an excellent model for gast rointestinal regulatory processes. This review highlights some recent advances in the field by outlining gastrin biosynthesis, summarizing c urrent understanding of gastrin receptors, describing the regulation o f gastrin release, and discussing the clinical implications of gastrin in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease. Emphasis is on three eme rging areas of gastrin research: the novel finding that one of gastrin 's posttranslational processing intermediates has biological activity distinct from that of the mature peptide; elucidation of gastrin's sig nal transduction mechanisms that mediate the trophic effects of the pe ptide; and the role of gastrin in peptic ulcer disease pathogenesis se condary to Helicobacter pylori infection.