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PubMed2006

A phosphonamidate containing aromatic N-terminal amino group as inhibitor of leucine aminopeptidase-design, synthesis and stability.

Fully deprotected phosphonamidate dipeptides, predicted as effective inhibitors of cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase, showed unexpected instability in water solution at pH below 12. Their hydrolysis rate was strictly correlated with basicity of the N-terminal amino group. To improve this feature a phosphonamidate analogue containing less basic, aromatic 2-aminophenylphosphonate residue in P1 position of the inhibitor was designed. The target compound was synthesised starting from diethyl 2-nitrophosphonate in several step procedure. The decrease in basicity of the terminal amino moiety of the modified analogue in fact resulted in satisfactory improvement of hydrolytic stability of the P-N bond. The developed phosphonamidate was proved to be fully resistant to hydrolysis above pH 7. Surprisingly, tested in enzymatic assays towards leucine aminopeptidase (optimum pH 8.5), it did not exhibit inhibition activity up to milimolar concentration. The explanation could be that diminishing the basic character of the terminal amino group may result in a change of its affinity towards the zinc ions.

Drug Design↗

PubMed1985

The slow, tight binding of bestatin and amastatin to aminopeptidases.

Bestatin reversibly inhibits Aeromonas aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.10) in a process that is remarkable for its unusual degree of time dependence. The binding of bestatin by both Aeromonas aminopeptidase and cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1) is slow and tight, with Ki values (determined from rate constants) of 1.8 X 10(-8) and 5.8 X 10(-10) M, respectively. In contrast, microsomal aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2) binds bestatin in a rapidly reversible process with a Ki value of 1.4 X 10(-6) M. Kinetic analysis of the slow inhibition observed is facilitated by the use of a variety of experimental treatments, primarily measurements made during pre-equilibrium; however, careful selection of conditions permits use also of steady state observations. When titrated with bestatin, 1 mol of cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase (containing 6 g atoms each of zinc and manganese) is rendered 80% inactive by 1 mol of inhibitor, thus suggesting that enzymatic activity depends on one active site/hexamer; titration of Aeromonas aminopeptidase by bestatin reveals a 1:1 stoichiometry. Amastatin inhibits all three aminopeptidases through the mechanism of slow, tight binding with Ki values ranging from 3.0 X 10(-8) to 2.5 X 10(-10) M. This behavior of microsomal aminopeptidase contrasts sharply with its rapidly reversible inhibition by bestatin. The slow, tight binding observed with five of the six aminopeptidase-inhibitor pairs investigated suggests the formation of a transition state analog complex between the enzyme and inhibitor. Physical evidence consistent with this possibility was provided by the observation that both bestatin and amastatin perturb the absorption spectrum of cobalt Aeromonas aminopeptidase.

Aeromonas↗

PubMed1999

Structural organization of the 5'-end and chromosomal assignment of human placental leucine aminopeptidase/insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase gene.

Placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) which is identical with cystine aminopeptidase as oxytocinase was found to be a homologue of rat insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase (IRAP) by cDNA cloning. In this study, we confirmed 5'-end cDNA sequence of P-LAP and isolated genomic clones containing the upstream region of human P-LAP gene. The transcription initiation sites determined by primer extension located 478 and 480 bp upstream of the initiation methionine codon, 38 bp downstream of TATA box-like motif. The 5'-flanking region of human P-LAP gene contained DNA-binding motifs for several ubiquitous transcription factors such as SP1 and AP2. Chromosomal localization by fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the gene was assigned to 5q14.2-q15 of the human chromosome. This study establishes the genetic basis for P-LAP gene research, thereby leading to better understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the P-LAP gene.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1992

Bilateral distribution of aminopeptidase activities in selected structures of a photoneuroendocrine circuit and other rat brain areas.

Provided that soluble aminopeptidases, the most abundant proteolytic enzymes found in brain, are involved in the metabolism of several neuropeptides, their activity could be a reflect of neuropeptide function. Therefore, in order to analyze their rate of participation, we have measured 4 soluble aminopeptidase activities: leucine aminopeptidase, arginine aminopeptidase, aspartate aminopeptidase, and pyroglutamate aminopeptidase, using arylamide derivatives as substrates, in selected structures integrating the photoneuroendocrine circuit related to the melatonin rhythm generating system and other rat brain areas. The regional distribution of all the activities was heterogenous: a 3-fold (leucine-, arginine- and aspartate-aminopeptidase) and 5-fold (pyroglutamate aminopeptidase) difference was observed between the regions with the highest and lowest activity. Significant differences were displayed between the left and right retina for pyroglutamate aminopeptidase and arginine aminopeptidase activities. High levels of pyroglutamate aminopeptidase were evident in the retina and adenohypophysis, which is consistent with a role for thyrotropin releasing hormone in photoreceptive mechanisms, and support its well established role in controlling thyrotropin releasing hormone in anterior pituitary. The presence of a high activity rate of aspartate aminopeptidase in adenohypophysis implies an active participation of angiotensin peptides at this level.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed2003

Human leukocyte-derived arginine aminopeptidase. The third member of the oxytocinase subfamily of aminopeptidases.

In this study we report the cloning and characterization of a novel human aminopeptidase, which we designate leukocyte-derived arginine aminopeptidase (L-RAP). The sequence encodes a 960-amino acid protein with significant homology to placental leucine aminopeptidase and adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase. The predicted L-RAP contains the HEXXH(X)18E zinc-binding motif, which is characteristic of the M1 family of zinc metallopeptidases. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that L-RAP forms a distinct subfamily with placental leucine aminopeptidase and adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase in the M1 family. Immunocytochemical analysis indicates that L-RAP is located in the lumenal side of the endoplasmic reticulum. Among various synthetic substrates tested, L-RAP revealed a preference for arginine, establishing that the enzyme is a novel arginine aminopeptidase with restricted substrate specificity. In addition to natural hormones such as angiotensin III and kallidin, L-RAP cleaved various N-terminal extended precursors to major histocompatibility complex class I-presented antigenic peptides. Like other proteins involved in antigen presentation, L-RAP is induced by interferon-gamma. These results indicate that L-RAP is a novel aminopeptidase that can trim the N-terminal extended precursors to antigenic peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Cloning and genetic analysis of the Vibrio cholerae aminopeptidase gene.

The structural gene for the Vibrio cholerae leucine aminopeptidase (lap) was cloned and sequenced. The cloned DNA fragment contained a 1,503-bp open reading frame potentially encoding a 501-amino-acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 54,442 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of the entire protein showed high homology with the sequence of Vibrio proteolyticus leucine aminopeptidase. The residues potentially involved in binding the zinc ions were completely conserved in the V. cholerae aminopeptidase as well as in the V. proteolyticus aminopeptidase. The recombinant protein was partially purified and characterized. The molecular mass was estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be 34 kDa, suggesting a processing of the protein to acquire the mature form. The protease showed maximum activity at pH 9.0 and was thermostable at 70 degrees C. The substrate leucyl-p-nitroanilide was cleaved by the protease, and its activity was inhibited by EDTA and bestatin. These results suggested that the protein was a leucine aminopeptidase. The PCR analysis of lap gene distribution showed that it was widely distributed among the V. cholerae strains. It was not present in the other species examined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1983

Stereospecificity of amino acid hydroxamate inhibition of aminopeptidases.

Hydroxamates of amino acids and aliphatic acids are effective inhibitors of Aeromonas proteolytica amino-peptidase (EC 3.4.11.10) and of both the cytosolic (EC 3.4.11.1) and microsomal (EC 3.4.11.2) aminopeptidases of swine kidney. Cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase and the Aeromonas enzyme were inhibited to a greater extent by D isomers than by the L enantiomorphs, manganese-activated kidney cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase being inhibited 10 times more effectively by D-leucine and D-valine hydroxamic acids than by the L isomers. The D isomers of these two compounds inhibited Aeromonas aminopeptidase to an even greater extent with Ki values of 2 X 10(-9) and 5 X 10(-9), respectively, whereas the corresponding L isomers were bound 150 times less tightly. With the Aeromonas enzyme, a comparison of inhibition by racemic mixtures with that of the corresponding L isomers indicated that in all cases the contribution of the D isomer was predominant. Isocaproic hydroxamic acid inhibited this enzyme equally well as L-leucine hydroxamic acid, indicating that the amino group orientation in the D isomer contributes to the binding efficacy. Swine kidney microsomal aminopeptidase was also inhibited by D isomers of leucine and valine hydroxamic acids but in contrast to the other two enzymes, the inhibition was 10-fold less than that observed for the corresponding L isomers. Cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase with either 6 g atoms of zinc per mol or 12 g atoms of zinc per mol was inhibited only slightly by any of the hydroxamic acid compounds; evidently enzyme-bound manganese (or magnesium) is specific for hydroxamate binding to this aminopeptidase.

Aeromonas↗

PubMed1976

Circadian rhythms of digestive enzymes in the small intestine of the rat. II. Effects of fasting and refeeding.

The effects of fasting were examined on the rhythmic changes in the activities of maltase [EC 3.2.1.20] and leucine aminopeptidase [EC 3.4.11.1] in the small intestine of rats which has been kept under scheduled feeding conditions. Irrespective of whether the rats had been kept on a daytime or nighttime feeding schedule, the rhythms of maltase and leucine aminopeptidase persisted when the animals were starved. However, the amplitude of the leucine aminopeptidase rhythm began to decrease from the first day of fasting, while that of maltase did not. Conspicuous rhythms persisted for at least 2 days during fasting, but they gradually became vague and disappeared after 5 days. When rats were refed after fasting, the leucine aminopeptidase activity increased within a few hours, but the maltose activity did not. It is suggested that the rhythms of the digestive enzymes in the small intestine of rats are not a direct consequence of food intake, but are triggered off by the anticipatory mechanism which operates when rats expect to be fed. The rhythmic change of leucine aminopeptidase seemed to be intensified by food intake.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Leucine aminopeptidase-like activity in Aplysia hemolymph rapidly degrades biologically active alpha-bag cell peptide fragments.

We have investigated the role that proteolytic enzymes in Aplysia hemolymph play in the inactivation of the neurotransmitter alpha-bag cell peptide (alpha-BCP(1-9), Ala-Pro-Arg-Leu-Arg-Phe-Tyr-Ser-Leu). alpha-BCP fragments containing Pro in positions 1 or 2, or Tyr in position 1, were degraded relatively slowly (half-life, t1/2 = 10-64 min), whereas fragments lacking these residues were degraded relatively rapidly (t1/2 = 0.5-2.7 min). Of 12 peptidase inhibitors tested, only bestatin, amastatin, and phenanthroline significantly inhibited alpha-BCP(3-9) degradation. alpha-BCP(3-9) yielded only four observable cleavage products (in order of decreasing abundance at early time points): alpha-BCP(4-9), alpha-BCP(5-9), alpha-BCP(6-9), and alpha-BCP(7-9). Degradation of alpha-BCP(3-9), alpha-BCP(4-9), alpha-BCP(5-9), alpha-BCP(6-9), or alpha-BCP(7-9) was strongly inhibited by bestatin, moderately inhibited by amastatin, and not inhibited by arphramenine B. The rates of degradation of eight alpha-BCP fragments and three other peptides in plasma were well correlated with their rates of degradation in mammalian leucine aminopeptidase (LAP, EC 3.4.11.1). Collectively our data support the following ideas. 1) In hemolymph one or more LAP-like enzymes rapidly and sequentially cleave alpha-BCP(3-9) or other small peptides lacking Pro at positions 1 or 2 or Tyr at position 1. 2) LAP-like peptidases in hemolymph may act in concert with previously described ganglionic peptidases to degrade neurally released alpha-BCP(1-9) and alpha-BCP(1-8) into inactive fragments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prostaglandin E2, collagenase, and protease levels in culture of rat tumor.

The production of collagenase, protease, leucine aminopeptidase, and prostaglandin E2 by rat tumor increased with the growth of tumor. The syntheses of collagenase, protease, and leucine aminopeptidase were significantly inhibited by indomethacin. Inhibition of collagenase, protease, and leucine aminopeptidase syntheses was overcome by the addition of prostaglandin E2 at a concentration equivalent to the endogenous level of prostaglandin E2 in rat tumor. These findings suggested that prostaglandin E2, possibly derived from tumor cells, was involved in stimulating the tumor connective tissue stroma to produce collagenase, protease, and leucine aminopeptidase, which promoted tumor cell invasion.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Proteolytic activities in yeast after UV irradiation I. Variation in proteinase levels in repair proficient Rad+ strains.

Specific proteolytic activities are known to be induced in Escherichia coli following irradiation. Consequently it seemed of interest to investigate whether variations in proteinase activities occur in yeast. Among the five most well known proteinases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have found that proteinase B activity increases up to three times in wild-type RAD+ yeast cells after a dose of 50 Jm-2 of 254 nm ultraviolet light (40% survival). Carboxypeptidase Y and aminopeptidase I (leucin aminopeptidase) activities were only moderately increased. Proteinase A activity was only slightly enhanced, while aminopeptidase II (lysin aminopeptidase) was unaffected in both RAD+ strains studied. The observed post UV-increase in proteinase B activity was inhibited by cycloheximide and was dose dependent. Increases in proteinase B levels were independent of the activation method used to destroy the proteinase B-inhibitor complex present in the crude yeast extracts. A standard method for comparison of the postirradiation levels among different proteinases, strains and methods of activation is presented.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1987

Effect of chlorpromazine on PZ-peptidase and several other peptidase activities in cloned osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1).

The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on the degradation of collagen and non-collagenous peptides in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was investigated by measuring the activities of PZ-peptidase, collagenase-like peptidase (CL-peptidase), dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (DAP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) (EC 3.4.11.1), and post-proline cleaving enzyme (PPCE) (EC 3.4.21.26). CPZ increased PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase activities in a dose-related fashion, but it had no effect on LAP and PPCE activities in the cells. CPZ (10 micrograms/ml) enhanced the specific activities of PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP for 72 hr after the start of CPZ stimulation; in particular, about a 3.3-fold increase of PZ-peptidase activity was observed at 12 hr of culture. Furthermore, other phenothiazine derivatives specifically enhanced the PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP activities as well as CPZ. Since PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP, involved in the degradation of collagen peptides, were induced significantly by CPZ (and/or other phenothiazine derivatives) in comparison with LAP and PPCE, involved in the degradation of non-collagenous peptides, these results show that CPZ specifically stimulated collagen catabolism by inducing the collagen-catabolizing enzymes. In addition, CPZ specifically inhibited collagen synthesis in clonal osteoblasts.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1993

Proteolytic processing of neuropeptide Y and peptide YY by dipeptidyl peptidase IV.

Neuropeptide Y, peptide YY and pancreatic polypeptide share an evolutionary conserved proline-rich N-terminal sequence, a structure generally known to be inert to the attack of common proteinases, but a potential target for specialized proline-specific aminopeptidases. Purified human dipeptidyl peptidase IV (also termed CD 26) liberated N-terminal Tyr-Pro from both, neuropeptide Y and peptide YY, with very high specific activities and Km values in the micromolar range, but almost no Ala-Pro from pancreatic polypeptide. Other proline-specific aminopeptidases exhibited low (aminopeptidase P, liberation of N-terminal Tyr) or totally no activity (dipeptidyl peptidase II), as was also observed with less-specific aminopeptidases (aminopeptidase M, leucine aminopeptidase). When human serum was incubated with neuropeptide Y or peptide YY at micro- and nanomolar concentrations, Tyr-Pro was detected as a metabolite of both peptides. Formation of Tyr-Pro in serum was blocked in the presence of Lys-pyrrolidine and diprotin A (Ile-Pro-Ile), specific, competitive inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Incubation of neuropeptide Y or peptide YY with immunocytochemically defined, cultivated endothelial cells from human umbilical cord also yielded Tyr-Pro. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV could be immunostained on most endothelial cells by a specific antibody. We suggest that dipeptidyl peptidase IV might be involved in the degradation of neuropeptide Y and peptide YY to N-terminal truncated neuropeptide Y(3-36) and peptide YY(3-36). Since specific binding to Y1, but not to Y2 subtype of neuropeptide Y/peptide YY receptors requires intact N- as well as C-termini of neuropeptide Y and peptide YY, removal of their amino-terminal dipeptides by dipeptidyl peptidase IV inactivates them for binding to one receptor subtype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Evaluation of inhibitory activity of casein on proteases in rat intestine.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible use of casein as an adjuvant for oral delivery of peptide drugs, the inhibitory activity of casein on proteases in rat small intestine was examined. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-300 g were used as the animal model. The luminal contents of the small-intestinal tract and mucosal subcellular fractions of the small intestine were prepared: the enzymatic activities of trypsin, chymotrypsin, aminopeptidase-B, leucine aminopeptidase, dipeptidylaminopeptidase-IV, cathepsin B, and dipeptidylaminopeptidase-II were determined using a specific substrate for each protease; and the effect of casein on the protease activity was examined. RESULTS: Casein strongly inhibited trypsin and chymotrypsin in the concentration-dependent manner. As to the proteases in the intestinal epithelial cells, casein inhibited an endopeptidase, cathepsin B, but not other exopeptidases. The inhibitory activity was independent of the type of casein. The kinetic analysis characterized the type of inhibition on trypsin and chymotrypsin to be competitive. CONCLUSIONS: Casein was shown to have strong inhibitory activity on trypsin and chymotrypsin in the intestinal lumen. Taken into consideration that trypsin and chymotrypsin are endopeptidases, it is suggested that casein has strong inhibitory activity only on endopeptidases.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Development of highly potent and selective phosphinic peptide inhibitors of zinc endopeptidase 24-15 using combinatorial chemistry.

Several hundred phosphinic peptides having the general formula Z-(L,D)Phe psi (PO2CH2)(L,D)Xaa'-Yaa'-Zaa', where Xaa' = Gly or Ala and Yaa' and Zaa' represent 20 different amino acids, have been synthesized by the combinatorial chemistry approach. Peptide mixtures or individual peptides were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the rat brain zinc endopeptidases 24-15 and 24-16. Numerous phosphinic peptides of this series act as potent (Ki in the nanomolar range) mixed inhibitors of these two peptidases. However, our systematic and comparative strategy led us to delineate the residues located in P2' and P3' positions of the inhibitors that are preferred by these two peptidases. Thus, endopeptidase 24-15 exhibits a marked preference for inhibitors containing a basic residue (Arg or Lys) in the P2' position, while 24-16 prefers a proline in this position. The P3' position has less influence on the inhibitory potency and selectivity, both peptidases preferring a hydrophobic residue at this position. On the basis of these observations, we have prepared highly potent and selective inhibitors of endopeptidase 24-15. The Z-(L,D)Phe psi-(PO2CH2)(L,D)Ala-Arg-Met compound (mixture of the four diastereoisomers) displays a Ki value of 70 pM for endopeptidase 24-15. The most selective inhibitor of endopeptidase 24-15 in this series, Z-(L,D)Phe psi (PO2-CH2)(L,D)Ala-Arg-Phe, exhibits a Ki value of 0.160 nM and is more than 3 orders of magnitude less potent toward endopeptidase 24-16 (Ki = 530 nM). Furthermore, at 1 microM this selective inhibitor is unable to affect the activity of several other zinc peptidases, namely endopeptidase 24-11, angiotensin-converting enzyme, aminopeptidase M, leucine aminopeptidase, and carboxypeptidases A and B. Therefore, Z-(L,D)Phe psi (PO2CH2)(L,D)Ala-Arg-Phe can be considered as the most potent and specific inhibitor of endopeptidase 24-15 developed to date. This new inhibitor should be useful in assessing the contribution of this proteolytic activity in the physiological inactivation of neuropeptides known to be hydrolyzed, at least in vitro, by endopeptidase 24-15. Our study also demonstrates that the combinatorial chemistry approach leading to the development of phosphinic peptide libraries is a powerful strategy for discovering highly potent and selective inhibitors of zinc metalloproteases and should find a broader application in studies of this important class of enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1984

Enzymatic digestibility of peptides cross-linked by ionizing radiation.

p6gestibility by proteolytic enzymes of peptides cross-linked by ionizing radiation was investigated. Small peptides of alanine and phenylalanine were chosen as model compounds and aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases were used as proteolytic enzymes. Peptides exposed to gamma-radiation in aqueous solution were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography before and after hydrolysis by aminopeptidase M, leucine aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A and carboxypeptidase Y. The results obtained clearly demonstrate the different actions of these enzymes on cross-linked aliphatic and aromatic peptides. Peptide bonds of cross-linked dipeptides of alanine were completely resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis whereas the enzymes, except for carboxypeptidase Y, cleaved all peptide bonds of cross-linked peptides of phenylalanine. The actions of the enzymes on these particular compounds are discussed in detail.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1985

Effect of prostaglandin E2 on PZ-peptidase and several other peptidase activities in a clonal osteoblast-like cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria.

The effects of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) on the degradation of collagen and non-collagenous peptides in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated by using highly sensitive assay methods for PZ-peptidase, collagenase-like peptidase (CL-peptidase), dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (DAP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and post-proline cleaving enzyme (PPCE). PGE2, at concentrations of 0.1 to 4.0 micrograms/ml, doubled the PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase activities in the cells on 24 h culturing in a dose-dependent manner. PGE2, at a concentration of 2.0 micrograms/ml, enhanced the specific activities of PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, DAP, LAP, and PPCE for 75 h after the start of PGE2 stimulation. The time dependent changes in PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase activities showed similar patterns, and 3- and 2-fold increases were seen after 48 h, respectively. The protein and DNA contents gradually increased after addition of PGE2. Since the PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase, involved in degradation of collagen peptides, were significantly induced by PGE2 in comparison with LAP and PPCE, involved in the degradation of non-collagenous peptides, these results show that PGE2 specifically stimulates induction of collagen catabolizing enzymes in clonal osteoblasts.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Phosphorus-containing peptides as mixed inhibitors of endopeptidase 3.4.24.15 and 3.4.24.16: effect on neurotensin degradation in vitro and in vivo.

1. We have examined several phosphorus-containing peptides as potential mixed inhibitors of two neurotensin-degrading zinc metallopeptidases, endopeptidase 3.4.24.15 and endopeptidase 3.4.24.16. 2. Among a series of 13 phosphonamide peptides, N-(2-(2-naphtyl)ethylphosphonyl-glycyl-prolyl-norleucine (phosphodiepryl 08) was found to inhibit potently the hydrolysis of neurotensin by purified endopeptidase 3.4.24.15 and 3.4.24.16 with an identical Ki value of 0.4 nM. 3. Phosphodiepryl 08 displayed a strong selectivity towards the two peptidases since it failed to inhibit several other zinc-containing peptidases such as endopeptidase 3.4.24.11, angiotensin-converting enzyme, aminopeptidase M, leucine aminopeptidase and carboxypeptidases A and B. 4. The protective effect of phosphodiepryl 08 on neurotensin degradation was examined in vitro and in vivo in central and peripheral bioassays. 5. Phosphodiepryl 08 virtually abolished neurotensin degradation by 4-day-old plated pure cultured neurones from mouse embryos and greatly potentiated neurotensin-induced antinociception in the mouse hot plate test. 6. In the periphery, phosphodiepryl 08 inhibited neurotensin degradation by membranes prepared from isolated longitudinal smooth muscle of guinea-pig ileum and greatly potentiated the neurotensin-induced contraction of the same longitudinal smooth muscle preparation. 7. Our study indicates that phosphodiepryl 08 behaves as a potent and selective mixed inhibitor of endopeptidase 3.4.24.15 and 3.4.24.16 and can be used as a powerful agent to prevent neurotensin degradation, in vitro and in vivo, in central and peripheral assays.

Animals↗