Purification and properties of microsomal carboxypeptidase N (kininase I) in human placenta.

Carboxypeptidase N (kininase I, EC 3.4.17.3) was found in human placenta and purified 600-fold. The enzyme was solubilized from membrane fractions with Triton X-100 and was purified by affinity chromatography with histargin, a potent inhibitor of this enzyme. The pH optimum of the enzyme was 7.8. The Km values for L-hippuryl-L-lysine and bradykinin were 1.25 and 0.43 mmol/l, respectively. The apparent molecular mass (Mr) of the enzyme determined by gel filtration was estimated to be 280,000, which is identical to that of the human serum enzyme. We propose that the placenta is a major source of carboxypeptidase N and thus may be involved in the physiological control of fetal circulation by regulating the kallikrein-kinin and renin-angiotensin systems.