Peptides from the N-terminus of the atrial natriuretic factor prohormone enhance guanylate cyclase activity and increase cyclic GMP levels in a wide variety of tissues.

The 98 amino acid (a.a.) N-terminus of the 126 a.a. atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) prohormone contains three peptides consisting of a.a. 1-30 (proANF 1-30), a.a. 31-67 (proANF 31-67) and a.a. 79-98 (proANF 79-98) with blood pressure lowering, sodium and/or potassium excreting properties similar to atrial natriuretic factor (a.a. 99-126, C-terminus of prohormone). ProANF 1-30 and proANF 31-67 have separate and distinct receptors from ANF in both vasculature and in the kidney to help mediate the above effects. At the cellular level proANFs 1-30, 31-67, and 79-98 as well as ANF's effects are mediated by enhancement of the guanylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.2)-cyclic GMP system in vasculature and in the kidney. These peptides from the N-terminus of the ANF prohormone circulate normally in man and in all animal species tested. The object of the present investigation was to determine if these peptides have the ability to enhance either guanylate cyclase and/or adenylate cyclase in a variety of other tissues in addition to kidney and vasculature. ProANF 1-30, proANF 31-67, proANF 79-98, and ANF all increased rat lung, liver, heart and testes, but not spleen, particulate guanylate cyclase 2- to 3-fold at their 100 nM concentrations. Dose response curves revealed that maximal stimulation of particulate guanylate cyclase activity by these newly discovered peptides was at their 1 microM concentrations, with no further increase in activity above their 1 microM concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)