A membrane bound substance P degrading endopeptidase from rat brain

From rat brain, a membrane bound substance P-degrading endopeptidase (SPE) was purified 1580 fold to near homogeneity. After extraction with 10 mM CHAPS, the enzyme preparation was subjected to ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, adsorption chromatography on hydroxyapatite, gelfiltration through Ultrogel AcA 44 and FPLC on Mono Q. This enzyme of 70,000 molecular weight is optimally active at pH 7.5. Metal chelators (EDTA and EGTA) and sulfhydryl modifying reagents (N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid) are strongly inhibitory while the serine-protease inhibitor diisopropyl-fluorophosphate does not effect the enzyme activity. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by bacitracin but not by phosphoramidon and captopril. Degradation of substance P is strongly inhibited by neurotensin, somatostatin, ACTH 1-39, and less effectively by LHRH but not by Leucine-enkephalin. Substance P is preferentially hydrolyzed at the Gln6-Phe7 peptide bond but fragmentation at the Pro4-Gln5, Gln5-Gln6,Phe7-Phe8 and Gly9-Leu10 bonds was also observed.