* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received December 28, 2004; Revision received February 1, 2005
Modeling the structure of the C-domain of bovine angiotensin-converting enzyme revealed two putative chloride-binding sites. The kinetic parameters, Km and kcat, of hydrolysis of the substrate Cbz-Phe-His-Leu catalyzed by the testicular (C-domain) enzyme were determined over a wide range of chloride concentrations. Chloride anions were found to be enzyme activators at relatively low concentrations, but they inhibit enzymatic activity at high concentrations. A general scheme for the effect of chloride anions on activity of the C-domain of bovine angiotensin-converting enzyme accounting for binding the activating and inhibiting anions is suggested.
KEY WORDS: angiotensin-converting enzyme, testicular enzyme, C-domain, chloride