Comparative distribution of glutamyl and aspartyl aminopeptidase activities in mouse organs.

To evaluate the functional role of glutamyl and aspartyl aminopeptidases, their soluble and membrane-bound activities were measured simultaneously in several tissues of normal mice using arylamide derivatives as substrates. Although the soluble aspartyl aminopeptidase activity showed its highest levels in the testicle, the rest of the activities presented their highest levels in the kidney. Different patterns of distribution were observed for glutamyl and aspartyl aminopeptidase activities and also for soluble and membrane-bound aspartyl aminopeptidase activities. However no major differences were observed between soluble and membrane-bound glutamyl aminopeptidase activities. This unequal distribution suggests that the use of arylamide derivatives as substrates is a sensitive method that distinguishes between these enzymatic activities. The results also suggest different functions for soluble and membrane-bound aspartyl aminopeptidase activities, and for glutamyl and aspartyl aminopeptidase activities.