Solubilization and characterization of CCK receptors from mouse pancreas

To study the characteristics of the CCK receptor, plasma membranes were prepared from mouse pancreatic acini, and CCK receptors solubilized with 1% digitonin. To measure hormone binding, the solubilized receptors were incubated with 125I-CCK at 4 degrees C and the hormone-receptor complex was precipitated with 10% polyethylene glycol. Specific 125I-CCK binding by the solubilized CCK receptor was compared to that by the plasma membrane-bound CCK receptor. Both the solubilized and the membrane-bound receptor displayed optimal binding at an acidic pH (between 6.0 and 7.0) and showed a similar sensitivity to monovalent and divalent cations. The solubilized receptors preserved their relative specificity for CCK molecules: CCK-8 greater than CCK-33 greater than desulfated CCK-8 greater than CCK-4. However, the soluble CCK receptor had a lower binding affinity than plasma membrane-bound receptor. Solubilized receptors preserved their relative specificity for inhibitors of CCK binding and action: dibutyryl cyclic GMP greater than N-CBZ-tryptophan greater than proglumide. Solubilized receptors had affinities for these antagonists that were similar to receptors on intact plasma membranes. These data indicate, therefore, that the specific binding properties of the CCK receptor are inherent to the solubilized glycoprotein molecules.     

Purification of the pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor

We have previously shown that the pancreatic cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor can be solubilized in 1% digitonin. In this study, digitonin-solubilized CCK receptors from rat pancreas were purified using sequential affinity chromatography on ricin-II agarose and on AffiGel-CCK. Electrophoresis of the radioiodinated purified receptors on SDS-polyacrylamide gels followed by autoradiography revealed two proteins: a major band of Mr = 80,000-90,000, and a minor band of Mr = 55,000. Through the purification procedure, the receptors preserved their agonist specificity (CCK-8 less than CCK-33 less than desulfated CCK-8 less than CCK-4) and binding affinity. Scatchard transformations of binding data for the purified receptor preparation were best fit by linear plots compatible with a single class of binding sites with Kd = 9.4 nM. The estimated purification was about 80,000 fold and consistent with the expected Bmax for a pure Mr = 80,000 protein binding one CCK molecule. This two-step purification procedure opens the possibility for molecular studies of the CCK receptor.     

Characterization of cholecystokinin receptors in bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) brain and pancreas

The binding of biologically active 125I-Bolton-Hunter-CCK-33 to bullfrog brain and pancreatic membrane particles was characterized. Both tissues exhibited time-dependent, saturable, reversible, and high affinity binding without evidence for cooperative interaction. Both bullfrog CCK receptors resembled their mammalian counterparts in having acidic pH optima for tracer binding and a Kd of about 0.5 nM. However, the receptors differed from their mammalian counterparts in that (1) the bullfrog brain membranes bound more tracer per mg protein than did the pancreatic membranes, (2) both bullfrog CCK receptors were relatively insensitive to dibutyryl cGMP, and (3) both bullfrog brain and pancreatic CCK receptors exhibited the same general specificity toward a variety of CCK and gastrin peptides. For both tissues, the relative order of receptor binding potency was CCK-8 greater than caerulein = CCK-33 greater than gastrin-17-II greater than CCK-8-ns = gastrin-17-I greater than caerulein-ns greater than gastrin-4 with the sulfated CCK peptides being 1000-fold more potent than their nonsulfated analogs. Sulfated gastrin was also relatively potent, being only 10-fold weaker than CCK-8. Gastrin-4 was 20 000-fold weaker than CCK-8 in interacting with the brain CCK receptor. The latter finding is in sharp contrast to the mammalian brain CCK receptor. We conclude that the bullfrog brain and pancreas contain similar CCK receptors of probable physiological significance and may represent an ancestral condition from which the two distinct CCK receptors present in mammalian brain and pancreas have evolved.     

Cholecystokinin receptor occupation and cholecystokinin-induced calcium mobilization in the early phase in rat pancreatic acini.

We examined receptor occupation, calcium mobilization and amylase release for cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) within a 3-min incubation period at 37 degrees C using dispersed acini from rat pancreas. Analysis of competitive binding inhibition data obtained after a 3-min incubation revealed the presence of only a single class of CCK receptors, while two classes of CCK receptor, i.e., high-affinity and low-affinity CCK receptors, were detected when binding reached a steady-state after a 60-min incubation. The IC50 of CCK receptors calculated from the 3-min binding data was 19.0 +/- 0.5 nM (mean +/- S.D.), close to the Kd of the low-affinity CCK receptors determined by equilibrium binding studies. Exposure of fura-2-loaded acini to 10-1000 pM CCK-8 caused an immediate and dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i followed by a gradual decrease in [Ca2+]i. The CCK-stimulated amylase release after 3 min of incubation was biphasic; amylase release increased over the dose range of 3-300 pM CCK-8, peaked at 300 pM CCK-8 and decreased with supramaximal concentrations of CCK-8. Our data suggest that occupation of the low-affinity, but not the high-affinity, CCK receptors is more directly associated with calcium mobilization and subsequent stimulation of amylase release in rat pancreatic acini.     

Pharmacological examination of cholecystokinin (CCK-8)-induced contractile activity in the rat isolated pylorus

The actions of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the production of a satiety-like state have been suggested to be mediated via receptors for CCK which are located in the pylorus. We investigated the actions of CCK and other pharmacological agents upon the isolated rat pylorus in vitro. We used the change in isometric tension of the tissue preparation (contraction amplitude) as the measure of the effects of the pharmacological agents. Cholecystokinin COOH-terminal octapeptide (CCK-8) was observed to elicit contraction in a dose-dependent manner, with the half-maximal dose (ED50) in the vicinity of 1 nM. Rapid desensitization to CCK was observed. The contraction amplitude was atropine-independent, and was not significantly antagonized by a wide variety of other pharmacological agents. The Na+-channel blocker tetrodotoxin was without effect upon contractile amplitude, as was the K+-channel blocker 4-aminopyridine, except at very high concentrations. Neurotensin, bombesin, and the substance P and bombesin antagonist spantide all elicited contraction in the isolated tissue; neurotensin had a similar potency to CCK-8 and bombesin was 10-15-fold less potent than CCK-8. Unsulfated CCK-8 was at least 170-fold less potent than sulfated CCK-8 and tetragastrin was at least 500-fold less potent than CCK-8. These results suggest that pyloric CCK receptors, which appear to have a pharmacological profile typical of peripheral CCK receptors, may have a physiological role in the peptidergic control of gastric emptying in the rat.     

Brain CCK receptors: species differences in regional distribution and selectivity

The binding of 125I-CCK-33 to its receptors prepared from cerebral cortex and cerebellum was studied in four species: mouse, rat, hamster, and guinea pig. Only the guinea pig showed significant binding to membranes from cerebellum and this binding was comparable to that observed for cerebral cortex. In all four species, the order of potency of unlabeled analogs to compete for the binding site was CCK-8 greater than CCK-33 greater than desulfated CCK-8 greater than CCK-4. While the affinity for CCK-8 and CCK-33 was similar in the various species, the relative affinity for desulfated CCK-8 and CCK-4 was less for hamster and guinea pig, indicating species differences in receptor specificity, as well as in regional localization.     

Importance of sulfation of gastrin or cholecystokinin (CCK) on affinity for gastrin and CCK receptors

We investigated the importance of sulfation of gastrin or cholecystokinin (CCK) on influencing their affinity for gastrin or CCK receptors by comparing the abilities of sulfated gastrin-17 (gastrin-17-II), desulfated gastrin-17 (gastrin-17-I), CCK-8 and desulfated CCK-8 [des(SO3)CCK-8] to interact with CCK or gastrin receptors on guinea pig pancreatic acini. For inhibiting binding of 125I-gastrin to gastrin receptors, gastrin-17-II (Kd 0.08 nM) greater than CCK-8 (Kd 0.4 nM) greater than gastrin-17-I (Kd 1.5 nM) greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 (Kd 28 nM). For inhibiting binding of 125I-Bolton Hunter-labeled CCK-8 to CCK receptors the relative potencies were: CCK-8 much greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 = gastrin-17-II greater than gastrin-17-I. Each peptide interacted with both high and low affinity CCK binding sites. The relative abilities of each peptide to interact with high affinity CCK receptors showed a close correlation with their abilities to cause half-maximal stimulation of enzyme secretion. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to older studies, sulfation of both CCK and gastrin increase their affinities for both gastrin and CCK receptors. Moreover, the gastrin receptor is relatively insensitive to the position of the sulfate moiety, whereas the CCK receptor is extremely sensitive to both the presence and exact position of the sulfate moiety.     

Multiple neurotransmitter receptors in the brain: amines, adenosine, and cholecystokinin

Radioligand binding studies of neurotransmitter receptors have provided discrimination at the molecular level, permitting the differentiation of multiple receptor subtypes for several biogenic amines. Using this paradigm we have labeled two distinct receptors each for cholecystokinin (CCK) and for adenosine. Adenosine receptors were labeled in brain with [3H]N6-cyclohexyladenosine (3H-CHA) and [3H]1,3-diethyl-8-phenylxanthine (3H-DP). The adenosine receptor labeled by 3H-CHA appears to be an A1 site, associated with reduction of adenylate cyclase activity, while 3H-DP sites resemble A2 receptors linked to adenylate cyclase enhancement. Cholecystokinin-33 labeled by the Bolton-Hunter procedure with 125I(125I-BH-CCK) labels different receptors in brain and pancreas. The pancreatic receptor does not react with CCK derivatives of fewer than eight amino acids, while the brain receptor does recognize pentagastrin, the carboxyl-terminal five amino acids of CCK. The "brain type" CCK receptor may normally interact with CCK-4, the carboxyl-terminal tetrapeptide of CCK, recently identified as a unique neuropeptide highly concentrated in the brain. CCK-8, the other major molecular form of CCK, may be the endogenous ligand for the "pancreatic type" receptor.     

Modification by Cholecystokinin Octapeptide of the Binding ofμ-, δ-, and K-Opioid Receptors

Previous study has shown that cholecystokinin (CCK) octapeptide (CCK-8) suppressed the binding of opioid receptors to the universal opioid agonist [3H]etorphine. In the present study, highly selective tritium-labeled agonists for the mu-[(tryrosyl-3,5-3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin ([3H]DAGO], delta- ([tyrosyl-3,5-3H][D-Pen2,5]enkephalin ([3H]DPDPE], and kappa- ([3H]U69,593) opioid receptors were used to clarify which type(s) of opioid receptor in rat brain homogenates is suppressed by CCK-8. In the competition experiments, CCK-8 suppressed the binding of [3H]DAGO and [3H]U69,593 but not that of [3H]DPDPE to the respective opioid receptor. This effect was blocked by the CCK antagonist proglumide at 1 mumol/L. In the saturation experiments, CCK-8 at concentrations of 0.1 nmol/L to 1 mumol/L decreased the Bmax of [3H]DAGO binding sites without affecting the KD; on the other hand, CCK-8 increased the KD of [3H]U69,593 binding without changing the Bmax. The results suggest that CCK-8 inhibits the binding of mu- and kappa-opioid receptors via the activation of CCK receptors.     

Unsulfated CCK-8 not blocked by proglumide or CR 1409 in the mouse abdominal irritant-induced stretching assay: possible central site of action

Previous studies have shown that unsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-U) shares with the sulfated octapeptide (CCK-8-S) and the carboxyl-terminal tetrapeptide (CCK-4) the ability to block abdominal irritant-induced stretching when administered intracerebroventricularly. The effects of CCK-8-U, however, are not naloxone-reversible and do not appear upon systemic administration. To assess the hypothesis that the antistretching effects of CCK-8-U are mediated by central-type (CCK-B), rather than peripheral-type (CCK-A) receptors, the present experiments examined the reversal of these effects by CR 1409, a CCK receptor antagonist with in vitro selectivity for CCK-A receptors, and by proglumide. Both antagonists, when administered ICV, blocked the antistretching effects of CCK-8-S and CCK-4 (ICV), but not those of CCK-8-U. CR 1409 was approximately 40 times more potent against CCK-8-S by the ICV route than subcutaneously, indicating a likely action on CCK-A receptors in the brain. The effects of morphine, bombesin and neurotensin (ICV) were not blocked by CR 1409, indicating specificity for CCK receptor-mediated effects. The antistretching effects of CCK-8-U do not appear to be mediated by CCK-A receptors, and the possibility of a CCK-B receptor site of action must be considered.     

Identification and Characterization of a Specific Receptor for Cholecystokinin on Isolated Fundic Glands from Guinea Pig Gastric Mucosa Using a Biologically Active 125I-CCK-8 Probe

Abstract

Specific binding sites for cholecystokinin (CCK) have been identified and characterized in fundic glands isolated by collagenase treatment from guinea pig gastric mucosa using a biologically active ¹²⁵I-labeled derivative of the C-terminal octa-peptide of CCK (¹²⁵IIE-CCK-8). The time course of binding to these glands was rapid, temperature dependent and saturable. At 24, 30 and 37° C, half-maximal binding was reached at 5 min and full binding at 30 min. The addition of a large excess of CCK-8 after 15 and 30 min of binding at 24° C caused a prompt and rapid decline in radioligand bound showing that the interaction was reversible. There was a progressive decline in the amount of ¹²⁵IIE-CCK-8 bound to fundic glands with increasing concentrations of CCK-8 and other structurally related peptides. Gastrin II displaced 50% of the radioligand at 1.6nM, CCK-8 at 3.2nM, gastrin I at 16nM, and desulfated-CCK-8 and pentagastrin at 59nM. Secretin did not displace the radioligand from fundic glands at 1.0uM. The binding was also tissue specific as glands isolated from the antral mucosa did not contain specific binding sites for ¹²⁵IIE-CCK-8. This data provides evidence for specific receptors for CCK on gastric fundic glands that may be involved in the control of acid and pepsinogen secretion.     

Distinct molecular mechanisms for agonist peptide binding to types A and B cholecystokinin receptors demonstrated using fluorescence spectroscopy

Fluorescence spectroscopy provides a direct method for evaluating the environment of a fluorescent ligand bound to its receptor. We utilized this methodology to determine the environment of Alexa within a cholecystokinin (CCK)-like probe (Alexa488-Gly-[(Nle(28,31))CCK-26-33]; CCK-8 probe) bound to the type A CCK receptor (Harikumar, K. G., Pinon, D. L., Wessels, W. S., Prendergast, F. G., and Miller, L. J. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 18552-18560). Here, we study this probe at the type B CCK receptor and develop another probe with its fluorophore closer to the carboxyl-terminal pharmacophore of type B receptor ligands (Alexa488-Trp-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH2; CCK-4 probe). Both probes bound to type B CCK receptors in a saturable and specific manner and represented full agonists. Similar to the type A receptor, at the type B receptor these probes exhibited shorter lifetimes and lower anisotropy when the receptor was in the active conformation than when it was shifted to its inactive, G protein-uncoupled state using guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]-triphosphate trisodium salt. Absolute values for lifetime and anisotropy were lower for the CCK-8 probe bound to the type B receptor than for this probe bound to the type A receptor, and Alexa fluorescence was more easily quenched by iodide at the type B receptor. This represents the first direct evidence that, despite having identical affinities for binding and potencies for activating type A and B receptors, CCK is docked via distinct mechanisms, with the amino terminus more exposed to the aqueous milieu when bound to the type B CCK receptor than to the type A CCK receptor. Of interest, despite this difference in binding, activation of both receptors results in analogous direction of movement of the fluorescent indicator probes.     

Relationship of CCK/gastrin receptor binding to amylase release in dog pancreatic acini

Effects of synthetic peptides belonging to the CCK/gastrin family (CCK-39, CCK-8, G/CCK-4, G-17ns) on amylase release in dog pancreatic acini have been measured and correlated with binding of three radio-labelled CCK/gastrin peptides: ¹²⁵I-BH-(Thr,Nle)-CCK-9, ¹²⁵I-BH-(2–17)G-17ns and ¹²⁵I-BH-G/CCK-4 prepared by conjugation of the peptides to iodinated Bolton-Hunter reagent and purified by reverse-phase-HPLC. All the CCK/gastrin peptides produced the same maximal amylase release response. Half-maximal responses (D₅₀) were obtained with 2 · 10^?10 M CCK-8; 6 · 10^?10 M CCK-39; 10^?7 M G.17 ns and 2 · 10^?6 M G/CCK-4. Dose-response curves for G-17 ns and G/CCK-4 were similar in configuration but not parallel with those for CCK-8 and CCK-39.Binding studies with ¹²⁵I-BH(Thr,Nle)-CCK-9 demonstrated the presence of specific CCK receptors on dog pancreatic acini. There was a good correlation between receptor occupancy by CCK-8 and CCK-39 and amylase stimulation since maximal amylase stimulation was achieved when 40–50% of high affinity receptors were occupied. In contrast, a saturation of these receptors was required for maximal stimulation by G-17 ns and G/CCK-4 suggesting the existence of a fraction of receptors that can be occupied by G-17 ns and G/CCK-4 without stimulation of amylase release. Binding studies with labelled (2–17)-G-17 ns and G/CCK-4 confirmed the presence of high affinity sites for G-17 ns and G/CCK-4. These sites were not related to amylase release.This study points out a possible species specificity of biological action of gastrin/CCK peptides on pancreatic exocrine secretion in higher mammals.     

Effects of exogenous cholecystokinin octapeptide on acquisition of naloxone precipitated withdrawal induced conditioned place aversion in rats

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), a gut-brain peptide, regulates a variety of physiological behavioral processes. Previously, we reported that exogenous CCK-8 attenuated morphine-induced conditioned place preference, but the possible effects of CCK-8 on aversively motivated drug seeking remained unclear. To investigate the effects of endogenous and exogenous CCK on negative components of morphine withdrawal, we evaluated the effects of CCK receptor antagonists and CCK-8 on the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced conditioned place aversion (CPA). The results showed that CCK2 receptor antagonist (LY-288,513, 10 μg, i.c.v.), but not CCK1 receptor antagonist (L-364,718, 10 μg, i.c.v.), inhibited the acquisition of CPA when given prior to naloxone (0.3 mg/kg) administration in morphine-dependent rats. Similarly, CCK-8 (0.1-1 μg, i.c.v.) significantly attenuated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced CPA, and this inhibitory function was blocked by co-injection with L-364,718. Microinjection of L-364,718, LY-288,513 or CCK-8 to saline pretreated rats produced neither a conditioned preference nor aversion, and the induction of CPA by CCK-8 itself after morphine pretreatments was not significant. Our study identifies a different role of CCK1 and CCK2 receptors in negative affective components of morphine abstinence and an inhibitory effect of exogenous CCK-8 on naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced CPA via CCK1 receptor.     

Cholecystokinin-stimulated pepsinogen secretion and cholecystokinin receptors on gastric chief cells in guinea pigs

We investigated cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors on isolated gastric chief cells from guinea pig. CCK stimulated pepsinogen secretion from chief cells at the same efficacy as that induced by carbamylcholine. Binding of 125I-labeled CCK-33 (125I-CCK) to chief cells was temperature-dependent, and was saturable and reversible at 37 degrees C. Hofstee plots of the ability of CCK-8 to inhibit binding of 125I-CCK showed a linear regression line, suggesting that CCK receptors possessed one binding site. The dissociation constant of the binding site was calculated to be 3.8 x 10(-10) M. The dose-response curve of CCK for pepsinogen secretion was superimposed on that for the binding to its receptors. These results indicated that gastric chief cells from the guinea pig possess CCK receptors that relate closely to the action of CCK involved in pepsinogen secretion.     

Cholecystokinin octapeptide analogues stable to brain proteolysis

Based on recent findings identifying the initial degradative cleavage of CCK-8 at the Met3-Gly4 bond by a metalloendopeptidase, two analogues of CCK-8 with D-Ala and D-Trp substitutions at the Gly4 position were synthesized as stable analogues. Their stability to proteolysis by brain membranes and their binding potency at central CCK receptors were quantified. Both peptides are stable to degradation by peptidases in cortical synaptic membrane preparations. The analogues are nearly equipotent to CCK-8 in their affinities for inhibition of 125I-CCK-33 binding to guinea pig cortical membranes. L-Ala and L-Trp substituted peptides were synthesized for comparison. Both these peptides are degraded by synaptic membranes and the L-Trp substituted peptide possesses a greatly reduced affinity for central CCK receptors. Therefore, the structure of CCK due to the D conformation of Gly is more capable of interacting with brain CCK receptors. Further conformational analysis will establish whether the stabilized structure is a beta-bend or a beta-turn. Since these peptides are highly potent and stable to brain proteolysis they may be useful as stable CCK analogues for in vivo application.     

The effects of antagonists of receptors for gastrin, cholecystokinin and bombesin on growth of gastroduodenal mucosa and pancreas.

The effects of gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK) and bombesin on the DNA synthesis, as a biochemical indicator of trophic action in the gastroduodenal mucosa and the pancreas have been examined in rats fasted for 48 h and in rats refed for 16 h with or without administration of specific receptor antagonists for bombesin, gastrin and CCK. Bombesin and gastrin administered three times daily for 48 h in fasted rats significantly increased the rate of DNA synthesis as measured by the incorporation of [3H] thymidine into DNA in each tissue tested. CCK significantly increased DNA synthesis in the duodenal mucosa and pancreatic tissue, but not in the gastric mucosa. The stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by bombesin in the gastroduodenal mucosa and pancreas was abolished by bombesin/GRP receptor antagonist, RC-3095. RC-3095 did not affect DNA synthesis stimulated by gastrin and CCK in these tissues. L-365,260, a receptor antagonist for gastrin suppressed the DNA synthesis induced by gastrin but not by CCK or bombesin in the gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas. L-364,718 a specific antagonist for CCK receptors was effective only against CCK stimulated duodenal mucosa and pancreatic growth. Refeeding of 48 h fasting rats strongly enhanced the DNA synthesis in all tissues tested, and this effect was significantly reduced in the gastroduodenal mucosa by blocking only gastrin receptors (with L-365,260) and that in the duodenal mucosa and the pancreas by antagonizing of CCK receptors (with L-364,718). Antagonism of bombesin receptors (with RC-3095) did not significantly affect the stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by refeeding in all tissues tested. This study indicates that the stimulation of DNA synthesis can be achieved by exogenous gastrin, CCK and bombesin acting through separate receptor but that only gastrin and CCK play the major role in the postprandial stimulation of the growth of gastroduodenal mucosa and pancreatic tissue.     

Cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced desensitization of pancreatic enzyme secretion is mediated by low affinity CCK receptors

CCK-8-induced desensitization of carbachol-stimulated amylase secretion occurred over a range of concentrations of CCK-8 that occupy low affinity CCK receptors. CCK-JMV-180 [BOC-Tyr(SO3)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-2-phenylethylester] at concentrations up to 1 microM did not cause desensitization of enzyme secretion; however, the peptide was able to inhibit CCK-8-induced desensitization. Analysis of the relationship between receptor occupation and CCK-8-induced desensitization caused by CCK-8 and CCK-JMV-180 in combination also indicated that CCK-8-induced desensitization of carbachol-stimulated amylase secretion is caused by occupation of low affinity CCK receptors.     

Pharmacological analysis of CCK2 receptors up-regulated using engineered transcription factors

Designed zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) regulate expression of target genes when coupled to activator or repressor domains. Transfection of ZFPs into cell lines can create expression systems where the targeted endogenous gene is transcribed and the protein of interest can be investigated in its own cellular context. Here we describe the pharmacological investigation of an expression system generated using CCK2 receptor-selective ZFPs transfected into human embryonic kidney cells (HEKZFP system). The receptors expressed in this system, in response to ZFP expression, were functional in calcium mobilization studies and the potency of the agonists investigated was consistent with their action at CCK2 receptors (CCK-8S pA50 = 9.05+/-0.11, pentagastrin pA50 = 9.11+/-0.13). In addition, binding studies were conducted using [125I]-BH-CCK-8S as radioligand. The saturation binding analysis of this radioligand was consistent with a single population of high affinity CCK receptors (pK(D) = 10.24). Competition studies were also conducted using a number of previously well-characterized CCK-receptor selective ligands; JB93182, YF476, PD-134,308, SR27897, dexloxiglumide, L-365,260 and L-364,718. Overall, the estimated affinity values for these ligands were consistent with their interaction at CCK2 receptors. Therefore, CCK2 receptors up-regulated using zinc finger protein technology can provide an alternative to standard transfection techniques for the pharmacological analysis of compounds.