In vitro biosynthesis of human renin: evidence for a high molecular weight form

Primary cultures of human chorionic cells have been developed. They secrete an inactive form of renin which can be activated by trypsin treatment. In biosynthesis experiments forming labelled renin the inactive renin exhibited a molecular weight (54 KD) higher than active kidney renin (44 KD). The same high molecular weight renin was obtained during biosynthesis experiments performed on tissue slices of human infarcted kidney. Therefore it is postulated that 54 KD biosynthetized renin might be the precursor of active renin.