Assessment of hazards and risks associated with dietary exposure to mineral oil for the Belgian population.

Recently collected dietary exposure data on mineral oil saturated (MOSH) and aromatic (MOAH) hydrocarbons were used to evaluate the risks associated with exposure to mineral oil through food for the Belgian population. For MOSH, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) value of 19 mg kg-1 bw day-1 based on the hepatic inflammation-associated granulomas found in a 90-day oral study in F-344 rats was used as point of departure (PoD). Due to existing toxicological uncertainties, the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was applied. In all investigated scenarios, the MOE values were well above 100, indicating that there is no direct health concern related to MOSH exposure for the Belgian population. Nevertheless, more appropriate risk assessment approaches for MOSH based on adequate PoD are needed. For dietary exposure to MOAH, which are potentially genotoxic and carcinogenic, no MOE values could be calculated due to the lack of adequate dose-response carcinogenicity data. In two investigated worst-case scenarios, a health concern related to MOAH exposure could not be excluded, highlighting that more data are needed to perform an adequate risk assessment. The possibility to use in vitro bioassays to collect such additional toxicological information for MOAH present in food samples was also investigated.

Intake of food supplements based on algae or cyanobacteria may pose a health risk due to elevated concentrations of arsenic species.

Despite the health benefits of food supplements (FS) based on algae or cyanobacteria, the elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in these FS may raise a health concern. In the present study 33 FS containing algae or cyanobacteria were collected and As (species) were analysed to estimate consumer exposure. Based on hazard and exposure data, potential risks were evaluated using inorganic arsenic (Asi) and the potentially toxic As fraction (Astot minus arsenobetaine (AB)). Astot concentrations were in the range 0.053-57 mg/kg with highest concentrations in FS containing brown algae. Asi concentrations were in the range <0.02-4.7 mg kg-1. A large part of As in FS containing algae or cyanobacteria was identified as potentially toxic AsSugars species. Negligible amounts of AB were detected. According to a tentative risk evaluation, the intake of Asi related to all FS collected was of no health concern for the general population. In 8 out of 33 of the analysed FS, however, the Asi concentration was of concern for population groups with increased cancer risks. If all As species except the non-toxic AB were taken into consideration, only 26 out of 33 of the FS showed 'no concern' for the general population, while for the other 7 FS a potential health risk was identified. This study indicates the need to obtain more data on toxicity of AsSugars and to develop limits for As (species) in FS.

Screening of endocrine activity of compounds migrating from plastic baby bottles using a multi-receptor panel of in vitro bioassays.

Endocrine activity of 65 compounds migrating from polycarbonate replacement plastic baby bottles was assessed using in vitro cell based assays (reporter gene assays) involving 7 nuclear receptors, i.e. human steroid hormones receptors (oestrogen, androgen, progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors), human thyroid beta and peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma receptors, and the mouse aryl hydrocarbon receptor. The chemicals were tested at 4 concentrations ranging from 0.001mM to 1mM. Only twelve chemicals did not show any activity towards any of the nuclear receptors, while fifty three compounds showed a possible endocrine activity. Most of the agonistic activities were observed towards the oestrogen receptor while the PPARγ was the target for most of the recorded antagonistic activities. Agonistic activities were recorded for several phthalates, benzophenones, aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, while compounds such as benzaldehydes, ketones and esters of fatty acid showed antagonistic activities. Thirty five chemicals were able of agonistic activities on 1 to 4 receptors and antagonistic activities were recorded for 35 compounds as well, towards 1 to 7 receptors. Sixteen compounds were able of both agonistic and antagonistic activities, but not on the same receptors, except in 2 cases for the oestrogen receptor and 4 cases for the PPARγ.

Endocrine activity of mycotoxins and mycotoxin mixtures.

Reporter gene assays incorporating nuclear receptors (estrogen, androgen, thyroid ß and PPARγ2) have been implemented to assess the endocrine activity of 13 mycotoxins and their mixtures. As expected, zearalenone and its metabolites α-zearalenol and ß- zearalenol turned out to have the strongest estrogenic potency (EC50 8,7 10-10 ± 0,8; 3,1 10-11 ± 0,5 and 1,3 10-8 ± 0,3 M respectively). The metabolite of deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol also had estrogenic activity (EC50 3,8 10-7 ± 1,1 M). Furthermore, most of the mycotoxins (and their mixtures) showed anti-androgenic effects (15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol and α-zearalenol with potencies within one order of magnitude of that of the reference compound flutamide). In particular, deoxynivalenol and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol acted as antagonists for the PPARy2 receptor. When testing mixtures of mycotoxins on the same cell systems, we showed that most of the mixtures reacted as predicted by the concentration addition (CA) theory. Generally, the CA was within the 95% confidence interval of the observed ones, only minor deviations were detected. Although these reporter gene tests cannot be directly extrapolated in vivo, they can be the basis for further research. Especially the additive effects of ZEN and its metabolites are of importance and could have repercussions in vivo.

Antidepressant-like effects of oxytocin in mice are dependent on the presence of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase.

Oxytocin is a neuromodulator with antidepressant-like effects. In vitro, oxytocin is rapidly cleaved by insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP). Oxytocin metabolites are known to exert strong central activities that are different from the effects of the parent molecule. Our goal is to investigate in vivo whether IRAP deletion modifies the antidepressant-like effects of oxytocin. Male and female C57Bl/6 mice, IRAP wild-type (IRAP(+/+)) and knock-out (IRAP(-/-)) mice were injected subcutaneously with saline, oxytocin or oxytocin combined with angiotensin IV. One hour after injection, immobility was timed during a 5 min forced swim that was preceded by an open field to study locomotor behaviour. Oxytocin induced antidepressant-like effects in male (0.25 mg/kg oxytocin) and female (0.15 mg/kg oxytocin) C57Bl/6 mice subjected to the forced swim test. Oxytocin did not influence locomotor behaviour in mice, as shown with the open field. These findings were reproduced in transgenic male (aged 3-6 months) and female (aged 12-18 months) IRAP(+/+) mice. However, the major findings of our study were that the antidepressant-like effect was reversed in angiotensin IV treated IRAP(+/+) mice and was completely absent in age- and gender-matched IRAP(-/-) mice. The lack of an antidepressant-like effect of oxytocin in young male and middle-aged female IRAP(-/-) mice attributes an important role to IRAP in mediating this effect.

Angiotensin IV displays only low affinity for native insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP).

Radioligand binding studies revealed that Ang IV binds to insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP)/'AT(4) receptors' with high affinity. Yet, as these experiments were routinely carried out in the presence of chelators, only the catalytic zinc-depleted apo-form of IRAP was labelled. While the chelators remove the catalytic zinc from IRAP and protect Ang IV from proteolytic degradation, the aminopeptidase N selective inhibitor '7B' only exerts the latter effect. By using 7B along with the new stable Ang IV-analog [(3) H]AL-11, we here show that the native enzyme is only a low-affinity target for Ang IV.

Binding of "AT4 receptor" ligands to insulin regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) in intact Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Insulin regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) recognises "AT(4)-receptor" ligands like angiotensin IV (Ang IV) and peptidomimetics like AL-11. The metabolic stability and high affinity of [(3)H]AL-11 for catalytically active IRAP allowed its detection in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cell membranes in the absence of chelators (Demaegdt et al., 2009). Here, we show that, contrary to [(3)H]Ang IV, [(3)H]AL-11 displays high affinity and specificity for IRAP in intact CHO-K1 cells as well. After binding to IRAP at the surface, [(3)H]AL-11 is effectively internalized by an endocytotic process. Unexpectedly, surface binding and internalization of [(3)H]AL-11 was not affected by pretreating the cells with Ang IV but declined with AL-11. In the latter case surface expression of IRAP even increased. After elimination of simpler explanations, it is proposed that metabolically stable "AT(4)-receptor" ligands undergo semi-continuous cycling between the cell surface and endosomal compartments. The in vivo efficacy of stable and unstable "AT(4)-receptor" ligands could therefore differ.

Potent macrocyclic inhibitors of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) by olefin ring-closing metathesis.

Macrocyclic analogues of angiotensin IV (Ang IV, Val(1)-Tyr(2)-Ile(3)-His(4)-Pro(5)-Phe(6)) targeting the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated biologically. Replacement of His(4)-Pro(5)-Phe(6) by a 2-(aminomethyl)phenylacetic acid (AMPAA) moiety and of Val(1) and Ile(3) by amino acids bearing olefinic side chains followed by macrocyclization provided potent IRAP inhibitors. The impact of the ring size and the type (saturated versus unsaturated), configuration, and position of the carbon-carbon bridge was assessed. The ring size generally affects the potency more than the carbon-carbon bond characteristics. Replacing Tyr(2) by ß(3)hTyr or Phe is accepted, while N-methylation of Tyr(2) is deleterious for activity. Removal of the carboxyl group in the C-terminal slightly reduced the potency. Inhibitors 7 (K(i) = 4.1 nM) and 19 (K(i) = 1.8 nM), both encompassing 14-membered ring systems connected to AMPAA, are 10-fold more potent than Ang IV and are also more selective over aminopeptidase N (AP-N). Both compounds displayed high stability against proteolysis by metallopeptidases.

Disulfide cyclized tripeptide analogues of angiotensin IV as potent and selective inhibitors of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP).

The insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) localized in areas of the brain associated with memory and learning is emerging as a new promising therapeutic target for the treatment of memory dysfunctions. The angiotensin II metabolite angiotensin IV (Ang IV, Val(1)-Tyr(2)-Ile(3)-His(4)-Pro(5)-Phe(6)) binds with high affinity to IRAP and inhibits this aminopeptidase (K(i) = 62.4 nM). Furthermore, Ang IV has been demonstrated to enhance cognition in animal models and is believed to play an important role in cognitive processes. It is herein reported that displacement of the C-terminal tripeptide His(4)-Pro(5)-Phe(6) with a phenylacetic acid functionality combined with a constrained macrocyclic system in the N-terminal affords potent IRAP inhibitors that are less peptidic in character than the hexapeptide Ang IV. Configurational analysis of three pairs of diastereomeric Ang IV analogues was performed using a combination of solution NMR spectroscopic methods, Monte Carlo conformational searches, and NAMFIS calculations. The compounds encompassing l-amino acids only (4, 8, and 12) showed significantly higher bioactivity compared to their lld-epimers (5, 9, and 13). The best inhibitors in the series, compounds 8 and 12, incorporating a 13- and 14-membered disulfide ring system, respectively, and both with a ß(3)-homotyrosine residue (ß(3)hTyr) replacing Tyr(2), exhibit K(i) values of 3.3 and 5.2 nM, respectively.

The replacement of His(4) in angiotensin IV by conformationally constrained residues provides highly potent and selective analogues.

The histidine residue in angiotensin IV was replaced by various conformationally constrained amino acids. The substitution of the His(4)-Pro(5) dipeptide sequence by the constrained Trp analogue Aia-Gly, in combination with beta(2)hVal substitution at the N-terminus, provided a new stable analogue H-(R)-beta(2)hVal-Tyr-Ile-Aia-Gly-Phe-OH (AL-40) that is a potent ligand for the Ang IV receptor IRAP and selective versus AP-N and the AT1 receptor.

Selective labeling of IRAP by the tritiated AT(4) receptor ligand [3H]Angiotensin IV and its stable analog [3H]AL-11.

'AT(4) receptors' through which Angiotensin IV (Ang IV) improves memory acquisition, were recently identified as insulin regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP). Radioligand binding studies have hitherto been performed with iodinated Ang IV in the presence of divalent cation chelators EDTA and 1,10-phenanthrolin. Hence, they referred to the apo-form of IRAP. Presently, binding of [(3)H]Ang IV and [(3)H]AL-11, a stable Ang IV analog, was compared on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) and mouse hippocampal (P40H1) cell membranes. With chelators, their high affinity sites showed the same pharmacological profile as for [(125)I]Ang IV binding. Without chelators, only high affinity binding was perceived for [(3)H]AL-11. The same pharmacological profile was recorded in both membrane preparations; it was different from the one in the presence of chelators and corresponded to catalytically active IRAP (despite the concurrent presence of aminopeptidase N (APN) in P40H1 cell membranes). This confirms that the active and apo-forms of IRAP have a distinct pharmacological profile.

Ligands to the (IRAP)/AT4 receptor encompassing a 4-hydroxydiphenylmethane scaffold replacing Tyr2.

Analogues of the hexapeptide angiotensin IV (Ang IV, Val(1)-Tyr(2)-Ile(3)-His(4)-Pro(5)-Phe(6)) encompassing a 4-hydroxydiphenylmethane scaffold replacing Tyr(2) and a phenylacetic or benzoic acid moiety replacing His(4)-Pro(5)-Phe(6) have been synthesized and evaluated in biological assays. The analogues inhibited the proteolytic activity of cystinyl aminopeptidase (CAP), frequently referred to as the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), and were found less efficient as inhibitors of aminopeptidase N (AP-N). The best Ang IV mimetics in the series were approximately 20 times less potent than Ang IV as IRAP inhibitors. Furthermore, it was found that the ligands at best exhibited a 140 times lower binding affinity to the membrane-bound IRAP/AT4 receptor than Ang IV. Although the best compounds still exert lower activities than Ang IV, it is notable that these compounds comprise only two amino acid residues and are considerably less peptidic in character than the majority of the Ang IV analogues previously reported as IRAP inhibitors in the literature.

Brain and peripheral angiotensin II type 1 receptors mediate renal vasoconstrictor and blood pressure responses to angiotensin IV in the rat.

OBJECTIVES: Angiotensin (Ang) IV was reported to increase renal cortical blood flow (CBF) via putative angiotensin IV receptor (AT4) stimulation but reduce total renal blood flow (RBF) via angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors. We investigated the effect of Ang IV on simultaneously measured mean arterial pressure (MAP), RBF, and CBF. The possible involvement of AT1 or AT4 receptors, the possible natriuretic effect, and responses to central administration were also explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intravenous injections of Ang IV dose dependently increased MAP and decreased CBF and RBF; these effects were abolished by AT1 receptor blockade. These reductions in CBF and RBF highly correlated as did renal vascular responses to Ang II and fenoldopam. Ang IV did not induce renal vasodilation even following AT1 receptor blockade. Intrarenal Ang IV infusion reduced CBF and RBF but had no natriuretic effect. Central Ang IV administration induced an AT1-mediated immediate increase in MAP and renal vascular resistance and a secondary increase in RBF. AT4 selective ligands, LVV-hemorphin-7 and AT4-16 (intravenous, intrarenal or intracerebroventricular), had no effects on MAP, RBF or urinary sodium excretion. Additional in-vitro experiments indicated that the majority of the Ang IV-sensitive aminopeptidase activity in kidney membranes is attributed to aminopeptidase-N. CONCLUSION: Insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP)/AT4 receptors are involved in neither the regulation of RBF or CBF nor in the handling of renal sodium. Ang IV increases MAP and induces renal vasoconstriction via stimulation of brain and peripheral AT1 receptors and may be involved in the regulation of renal blood flow and blood pressure.

Small potent ligands to the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP)/AT(4) receptor.

Angiotensin IV analogs encompassing aromatic scaffolds replacing parts of the backbone of angiotensin IV have been synthesized and evaluated in biological assays. Several of the ligands displayed high affinities to the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP)/AT(4) receptor. Displacement of the C-terminal of angiotensin IV with an o-substituted aryl acetic acid derivative delivered the ligand 4, which exhibited the highest binding affinity (K(i) = 1.9 nM). The high affinity of this ligand provides support to the hypothesis that angiotensin IV adopts a gamma-turn in the C-terminal of its bioactive conformation. Ligand (4) inhibits both human IRAP and aminopeptidase N-activity and induces proliferation of adult neural stem cells at low concentrations. Furthermore, ligand 4 is degraded considerably more slowly in membrane preparations than angiotensin IV. Hence, it might constitute a suitable research tool for biological studies of the (IRAP)/AT(4) receptor.

Involvement of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase and/or aminopeptidase N in the angiotensin IV-induced effect on dopamine release in the striatum of the rat.

Locally administered angiotensin IV causes a dose-dependent increase of the dopamine levels in the striatum of the rat. The aminopeptidases insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) and/or aminopeptidase N (AP-N) are proposed to be involved in this effect since both enzymes are inhibited by angiotensin IV. In agreement with this hypothesis we demonstrate that by using the AP-N selective inhibitor 7B, about 60% of the aminopeptidase activity in striatal membranes could be attributed to AP-N (pK(i)=9.20). Higher concentrations of 7B are capable of inhibiting IRAP as well (pK(i)=7.26). Interestingly, in vivo, inhibition of IRAP or AP-N activity does not appear to be involved in the angiotensin IV-mediated effect in the striatum since 7B itself is not capable to induce dopamine release such as observed with angiotensin IV. However, 7B at a concentration selective for inhibition of AP-N (100 nM) potentiates the angiotensin IV-mediated increase of dopamine, suggesting that inhibition of AP-N lengthens the half-life of angiotensin IV. On the other hand, inhibition of both AP-N and IRAP by perfusion of 500 nM 7B completely abolishes the effect of angiotensin IV. We therefore hypothesize that the effect of angiotensin IV on dopamine release in the striatum is mediated via activation of IRAP and/or AP-N, possibly acting as receptors for angiotensin IV.

Synergistic inhibition of the enzymatic activity of aminopeptidase N by divalent metal ion chelators.

Membranes of HEK293 cells that were transfected with human aminopeptidase N (AP-N, CD13, EC 3.4.11.2) and purified soluble porcine kidney AP-N were used to study inhibition of its enzyme activity by divalent cation chelators. Whereas pre-incubation for 10 min with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), did not or only weakly affected the enzyme activity, the bidentate chelator 1,10-phenanthroline produced a complete and concentration-dependent inhibition of AP-N. The corresponding curves had Hill slopes of 2.50 +/- 0.23 and 2.73 +/- 0.01 for soluble and recombinant AP-N respectively. EDTA increased the potency of 1,10-phenanthroline till a limit, at which Hill slopes became close to unity. In the absence of EDTA, the inhibition by 1,10-phenanthroline was only weakly affected by the substrate concentration. On the other hand, competition between 1,10-phenanthroline and the substrate took place in the presence of EDTA. Similar findings were reported for the related metallopeptidase cystinyl aminopeptidase and point towards a model in which 1,10-phenanthroline inhibit enzyme activity by decreasing the free Zn2+ concentration. Moreover, EDTA is capable of removing a modulatory ion from an allosteric site at the enzyme, facilitating the direct interaction between 1,10-phenanthroline and the catalytic Zn2+. Compatible with this model, Ca2+ may bind to this allosteric site resulting in the potentiation of Zn2+-mediated re-activation of the enzyme activity in the presence of EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline.

Cyclic insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP)/AT4 receptor ligands.

The angiotensin IV receptor (AT4 receptor) is the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase enzyme (IRAP, EC 3.4.11.3). This membrane-spanning enzyme belongs to the M1 family of zinc-dependent metallo-peptidases. It has been proposed that AT4 receptor ligands exert their physiological effects by binding to the active site of IRAP and thereby inhibiting the catalytic activity of the enzyme. The biological activity of a large series of linear angiotensin IV analogs was previously disclosed. Herein, the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of angiotensin IV analogs, encompassing macrocyclic ring systems of different sizes, are presented. It is demonstrated that disulfide cyclizations of angiotensin IV can deliver ligands with high IRAP/AT4 receptor affinity. One ligand, with an 11-membered ring system (4), inhibited human IRAP and aminopeptidase N (AP-N) activity with similar potency as angiotensin IV but was considerably more stable than angiotensin IV toward enzymatic degradation. The compound provides a promising starting point for further optimization toward more drug-like derivatives. The cyclic constrained analogs allowed us to propose a tentative bioactive conformation of angiotensin IV and it seems that the peptide adopts an inverse gamma-turn at the C-terminal.

Angiotensin AT4 receptor ligand interaction with cystinyl aminopeptidase and aminopeptidase N: [125I]Angiotensin IV only binds to the cystinyl aminopeptidase apo-enzyme.

Due to its high affinity for [(125)I]Angiotensin IV, cystinyl aminopeptidase (CAP) has recently been assigned as the 'angiotensin AT(4) receptor'. Since the aminopeptidase N (AP-N) activity is also susceptible to inhibition by Angiotensin IV, it might represent an additional target for this peptide. Based on [(125)I]Angiotensin IV binding and catalytic activity measurements, we compared the ligand interaction properties of recombinant human CAP and human AP-N. Both enzymes displayed distinct pharmacological profiles. Although their activity is inhibited by Angiotensin IV and LVV-hemorphin 7, both peptides are more potent CAP-inhibitors. On the other hand, substance P and l-methionine have a higher potency for AP-N. High affinity binding of [(125)I]Angiotensin IV to CAP occurs in the presence of chelators but not to AP-N in either the absence or presence of chelators. These differences were exploited to determine whether CAP and/or AP-N are present in different cell lines (CHO-K1, COS-7, HEK293, SK-N-MC and MDBK). We provide evidence that CAP predominates in these cell lines and that, comparatively, CHO-K1 cells display the highest level of this enzyme.

Metal ion modulation of cystinyl aminopeptidase.

Cystinyl aminopeptidase has one Zn2+-binding motif and is a member of the M1 aminopeptidase family. Ion modulation of its catalytic activity was studied in membranes of CHO-K1 cells (Chinese-hamster ovary K1 cells) using L-leucine-p-nitroanilide as substrate. The planar bidentate chelators 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridine inhibited the activity in a concentration-dependent manner with Hill slopes of 3.32+/-1.78 and 2.10+/-0.26 respectively. The acetic acid-containing chelators EDTA, EGTA and DTPA (diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N'',N''-penta-acetic acid) weakly affected the activity, but they increased the potency of the planar chelators up to a limit, at which Hill slopes became close to unity. Moreover, competition between 1,10-phenanthroline and the substrate only took place in the presence of EDTA. These findings are compatible with a model in which the bidentate chelators inhibit enzyme activity by decreasing the free Zn2+ concentration. By removing a modulatory ion from an allosteric site at the enzyme, the acetic acid-containing chelators facilitate the direct interaction between the bidentate chelators and the catalytic Zn2+. The inhibitory effect of EDTA plus 1,10-phenanthroline could be completely reversed by Zn2+. Ca2+ and Mg2+ increased the potency of Zn2+ for this process. This is expected if they interact with the modulatory site to decrease the sensitivity of the enzyme towards 1,10-phenanthroline. Conversely, the bidendate chelators increased the high-affinity [125I]angiotensin IV binding to the membranes and this was potentiated by the acetic acid-containing chelators. These findings support the concept that high-affinity [125I]angiotensin IV binding, previously referred to as 'AT4 receptor binding', only occurs for the cystinyl aminopeptidase apoenzyme.

Synergistic modulation of cystinyl aminopeptidase by divalent cation chelators.

Membranes of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells were used to study the opposite modulation of enzyme activity and [125I]Ang IV binding to cystinyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.3) by divalent cation chelators. Whereas ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) alone only slightly affected the enzyme activity, 1,10-phenanthrolin (1,10-PHE) produced a complete and concentration-dependent inhibition. Interestingly EDTA (> or =0.05 mM) or EGTA (> or =0.15 mM) enhanced the inhibitory effect of 1,10-PHE. Two-site analysis of the corresponding inhibition curves revealed that EDTA and EGTA converted enzymes with low sensitivity towards 1,10-PHE into enzymes with high sensitivity. The combined inhibition by EDTA (0.1 mM) and 1,10-PHE (0.1 mM) could be prevented and reversed by addition of Zn2+ (at about 0.04-0.1 mM). In contrast, specific binding of [125I]Ang IV was enhanced in the presence of 1,10-PHE. Binding was only slightly affected by EDTA or EGTA alone. Furthermore, the stimulatory effect of 1,10-PHE was potentiated by EDTA (> or =0.05 mM) as well as EGTA (> or =0.15 mM). In the presence of EDTA (0.1 mM) and 1,10-PHE (0.1 mM), specific [125I]Ang IV binding was completely inhibited by Zn2+ (IC50= 39.7 +/- 6.2 microM). The present data show that divalent cations such as Zn2+ are essential for the enzyme activity of cystinyl aminopeptidase and inhibitory for [125I]Ang IV binding. Modulation of the effects of 1,10-PHE by other chelators such as EDTA or EGTA, suggests that, in addition to the binding site for zinc in the catalytic site, cystinyl aminopeptidase also bears a regulatory divalent cation binding site.