Studies on human urinary arylamidases.

Human urinary protein was found to contain enzymes that hydrolyze leucyl-, alanyl-, and glycyl-prolyl-beta-naphthylamides. The kinetic constants of these enzymes were determined and their chemical properties studied. The values for Km calculated for leucyl-, alanyl-, and glycyl-prolyl arylamidases were 3.7 times 10(-5) M, 7.1 times 10(-5) M, and 1 times 10(-4) M, respectively. The pH optima for the hydrolysis of Leu-beta-naphthylamide and Ala-beta-naphthylamide were between 7.4-7.8; whereas for glycyl-prolyl-beta-naphthylamide, it was around 8.8. Unlike the glycyl-prolyl-arylamidase which was inhibited by Co2+ and Mn2+, the other two arylamidases were slightly activated by Co2+. p-Chloromercuriphenyl-sulfonate and puromycin significantly inhibited leucyl-, and alanyl arylamidases. The mean values for 24-h urinary output for leucyl-, alanyl-, and glycyl-prolyl arylamidases in normal human male subjects were 4.32, 9.97, and 2.2 units, respectively.