A simple method for isolating human endothelin converting enzyme free from contamination by neutral endopeptidase...

Subcellular fractionation of the phosphoramidon sensitive membrane-bound endothelin converting enzyme (ECE-1) activity from homogenates of bovine aortic endothelial cells and the human endothelial cell line EA.hy 926, combined with studies of intact cells, shows ECE-1 to be localised primarily to the plasma membrane with the topology of an ectoenzyme. To overcome the problem of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 contaminating the human ECE-1 activity solubilised from the plasma membrane fractions of EA.hy 926, we have used isoelectric focusing to simultaneously solubilise and separate these activities. The metallopeptidase ECE-1 obtained displayed a neutral pH optimum, a molecular weight of 250 kDa on gel filtration chromatography and was inhibited by phosphoramidon with an IC50 of 0.8 microM.