The enzymic potential of tissue kallikrein (rK1) in rat submandibular saliva depends on whether it was secreted via constitutive or regulated pathways.

The enzymic activity and immunoreactivity of rat tissue kallikrein (rK1) secreted at rest by granular duct cells of unstimulated submandibular glands has been compared with that secreted on autonomic nerve stimulation. Although a direct vesicular, constitutive secretory pathway operates for rK1 secretion from granular duct cells of unstimulated and parasympathetically stimulated glands the rK1 was not present in a pro-form and actually showed a greater enzymic activity per unit immunoreactive protein than the granule-derived rK1 in sympathetically evoked saliva. Constitutively secreted rK1 was found to be in a single chain molecular form by reducing SDS gel electrophoresis. In contrast rK1 secreted from the storage granule pool of granular duct cells on sympathetic nerve stimulation was present in much higher amounts and occurred in both one-chain and two-chain forms as revealed by SDS gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. The lower enzymic potential of rK1 in sympathetically evoked saliva might be accounted for by its conversion to a two-chain form.