Dynorphin-converting enzymes (DCEs) constitute a recently identified group of proteinases capable of transforming the dynorphin-related opioid peptides to enkephalins [1,2]. The total activity of these enzymes in the central nervous system is surprisingly high compared to the peptide pool in tissues or body fluids [3]. These enzymes convert the j-receptor-specific dynorphins to d-receptor-specific enkephalins, and may play an important role by releasing ligands mediating analgesic activity [4,5]. One of these enzymes is a serine peptidase that has shown to be present in human [6] and rat [7] cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Little is known about the regulation of the activity of neuropeptide peptidases in the central nervous system. Recently, we described our preliminary finding of a protein in the CSF [2] possessing inhibitory activity against a DCE isolated from CSF. Here, we present a detailed study on the identification and properties of this inhibitor, which also inhibited other serine proteases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin and plasmin.
Results
Isolation of inhibitorWe had earlier isolated a DCE in the CSF that was found to be a serine protease. Therefore, to isolate and identify an endogenous inhibitor of this enzyme, we used affinity chromatography with an immobilized anhydrotrypsin. In the case of bikunin from human