Characterization of a kinin inactivating serine endopeptidase H2 (kininase) from human urine using fluorogenic substrates

We have previously described a kinin-inactivating endopeptidase (H2), which was purified 19-fold from human urine by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel filtration. The enzyme was inhibited 100% by PMSF, TPCK and pOHMB. In the present communication, we further characterized this enzyme using the f luorogenic substrates Abz-RPPGFSPFRQ-EDDnp (Abz-BKQ-EDDnp) and Abz-FRQ-EDDn p (Abz = ortho-aminobenzoic acid; EDDnp = N-[2,4-dinitrophenyl] ethylenedia mine). Also a rapid, sensitive and specific assay for the H2 was developed. The enzyme hydrolyzed bradykinin (BK = RPPGFSPFR) at the F-S peptide bond, differing from the cleavage site F-R, in the fluorogenic substrates Abz-BK Q-EDDnp and Abz-FRQ-EDDnp. Other enzymes present. in urine als the serine e ndopeptidase III, prolyl endopeptidase and neutral endopeptidase-like were not able to hydrolyze the related substrate Abz-FRQ-EDDnp. The determined K -m for Abz-BKQ-EDDnp and Abz-FRQ-EDDnp were 0.79 mu M and 3.02 mu M, respec tively. Using the fluorogenic substrates, we observed that PMSF and p-hydro xymercuribenzoate irreversibly inhibited the enzyme H2. E-64 was a weak and reversible inhibitor, whereas EDTA and pepstatin were not inhibitory. The inhibition observed in the presence of pOHMB was partially reversed by 2 mM cysteine. These results suggest that the H2 enzyme belongs to the subfamil y of SH-containing serine proteases. Based on the molecular weight of isola ted H2 (60 kDa), we believe that this enzyme originated from the kidney and may cleave the kinins filtered through the glomerulus and also that produc ed in the kidney. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.