A high-molecular-mass neutral endopeptidase-24.5 from human lung

A high-Mr neutral endopeptidase-24.5 (NE) that cleaved bradykinin at the Phe5-Ser6 bond was purified to apparent homogeneity from human lung by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The final enzyme preparation produced a single enzymically active protein band after electrophoresis on a 5% polyacrylamide gel. Human lung NE had an Mr of 650,000 under non-denaturing conditions, but after denaturation and electrophoresis on an SDS/polyacrylamide gel NE dissociated into several lower-Mr components (Mr 21,000-32,000) and into two minor components (Mr approx. 66,000). The enzyme activity was routinely assayed with the artificial substrate Z-Gly-Gly-Leu-Nan (where Z- and -Nan represent benzyloxycarbonyl- and p-nitroanilide respectively). NE activity was enhanced slightly by reducing agents, greatly diminished by thiol-group inhibitors and unchanged by serine-proteinase inhibitors. Human lung NE was inhibited by the univalent cations Na+ and K+. No metal ions were essential for activity, but the heavy-metal ions Cu2+, Hg2+ and Zn2+ were potent inhibitors. With the substrate Z-Gly-Gly-Leu-Nan a broad pH optimum from pH 7.0 to pH 7.6 was observed, and a Michaelis constant value of 1.0 mM was obtained. When Z-Gly-Gly-Leu-Nap (where -Nap represents 2-naphthylamide) was substituted for the above substrate, no NE-catalysed hydrolysis occurred, but Z-Leu-Leu-Glu-Nap was readily hydrolysed by NE. In addition, NE hydrolysed Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-Nap rapidly, but at pH 9.8 rather than in the neutral range. Although human lung NE was stimulated by SDS, the extent of stimulation was not appreciable as compared with the extent of SDS stimulation of NE from other sources.