Separation of Renin-Like Activity from Acid Protease Activity in Different Parts of Rat Brain

Abstract

A renin-like enzyme was separated from acid protease (cathepsin) from whole and different parts of rat brains on hemoglobin agarose resin. During the separation steps the specific activity of the brain renin-like enzyme was increased, while the specific activity of the brain cathepsin was decreased. More than 10-folds increase in the brain renin-like specific activity, and a 50% decrease in the brain cathepsin specific activity were obtained when compared to their activities obtained when separation on CM-cellulose column occurred. The brain renin-like enzyme showed optimal activity in the range of pH 6-7. The frontal cortex showed the highest renin activity, (5.4ng Angiotensin I/g tissue/hr).

Keywords

• renin-like activity; acid protease activity; rat brain