High-molecular-weight renin converting enzyme from dog kidney: detection and fractionation

Renal cortical high-molecular-weight renin (Mw:60,000) of the dog is a complex of renin (low-molecular-weight renin; Mw:40,000) and a renin binding protein. We detected an enzyme-like substance that catalyzes the conversion from high- into low-molecular-weight renin. When the renal cortical extract was added to the high-molecular-weight renin and the preparation incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min, the high-molecular-weight renin was converted into the low-molecular-weight form. No such conversion occurred in the case of renal medullary extract. This converting substance was fractionated using concanavalin A Sepharose, 70% ammonium sulfate saturation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The converting activity was inhibited by potassium tetrathionate, N-ethylmaleimide and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). These events suggest that this substance is an enzyme possessing sulfhydryl moieties. However, a cathepsin B inhibitor leupeptin did not affect the activity. Accordingly, the high-molecular-weight renin converting enzyme, which is sensitive to sulfhydryl oxidation, may explain the mechanism of interconversion between high- and low-molecular-weight renin involving the oxidation-reduction of tissue sulfhydryl groups.