A simple radioassay for angiotensin-converting enzyme

Abstract

Angiotensin-converting enzyme can be measured by the rate of release of 3H-labelled hippurate from p-[3H]benzoylglycylglycylglycine. The product is separable from the substrate by extraction of acidified reaction mixtures with ethyl acetate. Assay results for human serum angiotensin-converting enzyme can be obtained within 1.5 h of receipt of serum samples. Within the limits tested, the assay appears to be specific. However, interference by hitherto unrecognized enzymes of abnormal sera must be ruled out.