Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1994-02-01

Inhibitory activities of metal chelators on endothelin-converting enzyme. I. In vitro studies.

N Ashizawa, H Okumura, F Kobayashi, T Aotsuka, M Takahashi, R Asakura, K Arai, A Matsuura

Index: Biol. Pharm. Bull. 17(2) , 207-11, (1994)

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Abstract

The effects of various metal chelators on endothelin (ET)-converting enzyme (ECE) activity were examined in vitro. Three chelators, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (DMP), toluene-3,4-dithiol (TDT) and 8-mercaptoquinoline (8-MQ), were found to dose-dependently inhibit ECE activity, but this inhibition was much weaker compared with EDTA. In the presence of Zn2+, the inhibitory activity of all these compounds, including EDTA, was abolished. The addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ markedly attenuated the inhibitory activity of EDTA, but the other three chelators were still able to inhibit ECE. ECE, once inactivated by EDTA or 8-MQ, was reactivated by the addition of divalent cations such as Zn2+ and Mn2+. These compounds also inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in a manner similar to the inhibition exhibited towards ECE. Chelate-titration indicated that DMP, TDT and 8-MQ chelate Zn2+ but not Ca2+ and Mg2+. These results suggest that the ECE inhibition exhibited by these compounds is mainly attributable to their chelating activities. The metal-selective chelating activity by DMP, TDT and 8-MQ may contribute to the retention of ECE inhibition in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+.