A new esteroproteinase (proteinase F) from the submandibular glands of female mice.

One of the esteroproteinases present in the submandibular glands of female mice was purified and characterized. The enzyme, designated proteinase F in this report, had a pI value of 4.6 and a molecular weight of 27600, being comprised of two subunits of 10000 and 18000 daltons. The amino acid composition of proteinase F resembled that of the epidermal growth factor-binding protein, but antiserum against proteinase F only reacted weakly against the binding protein. Proteinase F had an optimum pH at around 9.0 and was strongly inhibited by Cu2+ and Hg2+ (42 and 76% inhibition, respectively, at a concentration of 4 x 10(-6) M). It was also inhibited by aprotinin, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, iodoacetamide, leupeptin, antipain, and benzamidine but neither by trypsin inhibitors from pancrease, soybean, or ovomucoid, nor by TLCK, TPCK, and epsilon-amino-n-caproic acid. Although its actual physiological function has yet to be determined, these properties indicate that proteinase F is a new enzyme, being distinguished from known proteinases, kallikrein, plasmin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, tonin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, proteinase A (beta-nerve growth factor endopeptidase), proteinase D (epidermal growth factor-binding protein), P-esterase, renin A, and renin C. Proteinase F was present in the submandibular glands of female mice more abundantly than in those of males, but it increased in males following castration. Thus, proteinase F appears to be affected by male hormones in vivo.