NEUTRAL ENDOPEPTIDASE-24.11 (NEP)-LIKE ACTIVITY IN MOLLUSCAN HEMOCYTES

Using a spectrofluorimetric procedure, we found that the plasma membra ne from hemocytes of two freshwater snails, Planorbarius corneus and V iviparus ater, shows neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP)-like activity. Moreover, the addition of ACTH(1-24) to the hemolymph provokes an incr ease in NEP-like activity. This increased NEP-like activity is blocked by phosphoramidon, a potent inhibitor of mammalian NEP. These finding s suggest that this peptidase ha been well conserved in the course of evolution and plays an important role in immune-neuroendocrine mechani sms. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.