Abstract

N-Arg dibasic convertase is a metalloendopeptidase primarily cloned
from rat brain cortex and testis that cleaves peptide substrates on
the N terminus of Arg residues in dibasic stretches. It hydrolyses polypeptides, preferably at -Xaa-+-Arg-Lys-, and less commonly at -Arg-+-Arg-Xaa-, in which Xaa is not Arg or Lys. It is proved that it can cleave alpha-neoendorphin, ANF, dynorphin, preproneurotensin and somatostatin. Also there is an evidence for extracellular localization of active NDR.