[Adaptation to diet of mRNA coding for pancreatic amylase and serine proteases in the rat].

Translation of total pancreatic RNA using the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system allowed us to estimate the relative levels of active mRNA coding for a number of secretory proteins in Rats fed high-carbohydrate or high-protein diets. Quantitative synthesis of secretory proteins in isolated pancreatic lobules was also achieved. Protein synthesis in lobules or as the result of active mRNA translation in a cell-free system was found to give similar results either on a qualitative or quantitative standpoint. We were also able to show that the levels of specific mRNA for pancreatic amylase and serine protease zymogens could directly be related to the amount of carbohydrate or protein in the diet. These findings indicate that nutritional regulation of pancreatic enzyme synthesis occurs through the modulation of levels of specific mRNAs in the acinar cell.