Degradation of [125I]-atrial natriuretic peptide by a soluble metallopeptidase isolated from rat ventricular myocytes.

Atrial natriuretic peptide is rapidly degraded by a soluble, heat labile peptidase isolated from ventricular myocytes. Degradation of [125I]-ANP is antagonized by unlabelled ANP, bradykinin, glucagon, 1,10-phenanthroline, PCMB, EDTA and the bacterial antibiotic bacitracin, but not by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, aprotinin, phosphoramidon, E-64, amastatin or the ACE inhibitor SQ 20881 and bradykinin potentiator C. In addition neither bovine serum albumin nor caesin afforded any protection against degradation. Peptidase activity was optimal at pH values above 8.5. The peptidase is likely to be of intracellular origin and may contribute to the extensive ANP degradative activity found in various ventricular muscle preparations.