Localization of angiotensin converting enzyme (kininase II). II. Immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence.

The cellular and subcellular sites of angiotensin converting enzyme (kininase II) in lung tissue and endothelial cells in culture were examined by immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence techniques. Converting enzyme is capable of inactivating bradykinin and of converting angiotensin I to its potent lower homolog, angiotensin II. Immunocytochemistry at the electron microscope level used goat anti- (pig lung and angiotensin converting enzyme) coupled to 11-MP (11-microperoxidase) via glutaraldehyde or to 8-MP (8-microperoxidase) via a bifunctional active ester, bis-succinyl succinate. The latter conjugate, which does not contain complex polymers, has been characterized in detail in terms of immunoreactivity and peroxidase activity.