Characteristics of the plasma TRH-degrading enzyme

The reaction products of plasma enzyme degradation of TRH were identified by thin layer chromatography. The enzyme in normal rat plasma yields proline and pGlu-His as major reaction products. High concentrations of proline decrease peptide cleavage, resulting in greater amounts of acid TRH. The apparent Km of the enzyme is 4.1 X 10(-6) M. LHRH and neurotensin are competitive inhibitors with Ki of 5 X 10(-6) M and 1.5 X 10(-5) M, respectively. Somatostatin, MIF, oxytocin, arg-vasopressin, arg-vasotocin, neurophysin II and glucagon do not compete; and pGlu-His-Pro-OH, Glu-His-Pro-OH, pGlu-His, His-Pro-NH2, and Pro-NH2 do not affect enzyme activity. These data suggest that the substrated requires pGlu and a terminal or internal amide to complex with the enzyme. The enzyme is markedly inhibited by Cu++, Bal, benzamadine, p-(chloromercuri)-benzoic acid, moderately affected by EDTA and puromycin, and unaffected by mercaptoethanol. TSH does not affect enzyme activity while LH inhibits it moderately at high concentrations (300-600 pg/ml).