2 DISTINCT ENKEPHALINASES - SOLUBILIZATION, PARTIAL-PURIFICATION AND SEPARATION FROM ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME

We have examined enkephalin degradation by solubilized membrane fractions of rat brain. Three distinct enkephalin degrading activities can be partially purified and chromatographically resolved. Aminopeptidase activity gives rise to free tyr, an enzyme designated enkephalinase A generates tyr-gly-gly while a newly reported enzyme activity, enkephalinase B, produces the tyr-gly fragment. Enkephalinase A activity can be completely resolved by DEAE column chromatography from angiotensin converting enzyme activity. This finding, together with a differential sensitivity of angiotensin converting enzyme and enkephalinase A activity to various reagents and salts, demonstrates that they are distinct enzymes. © 1979.