| Description: |
In Vitro
Pepstatin Ammonium is a specific acid protease inhibitor produced by actinomycetes, with IC50s of 4.5 nM, 6.2 nM, 150 nM, 290 nM, 520 nM and 260 nM for hemoglobin-pepsin, hemoglobin-proctase, casein-pepsin, casein-proctase, casein-acid protease and hemoglobin-acid protease, respectively. Pepstatin (Pepstatin A) inhibits the recombinant HIV protease with an IC50 of 250 μM. Pepstatin shows no effect on cellular protein synthesis and probably does not exert severe cell toxicity.
In Vivo
Pepstatin has a very low toxicity, with LD50s of 1090 mg/kg, 875 mg/kg, 820 mg/kg and 450 mg/kg for mice, rats, rabbits, and dogs by i.p. route, and >2000 mg/kg for all species by oral route. Pepstatin (0.5-50 mg/kg, p.o.) suppresses stomach ulceration of the pylorus in ligated Shay rats. |
