PEPTIDE PROCESSING ENZYMES IN THE PLACENTA

描述（改编自申请人的描述）：此K 08奖将 允许候选人获得科学专业知识，并进行 这些研究将促进对所选药物功能的理解， 胎盘肽酶 具体来说，她将测试关于 通过这些机制， 内皮素-1与子痫前期及早产儿的发病有关 劳动，并通过改变羧肽酶，处理 多种肽类激素和生长受限。 具体目标1将 检验两种密切相关的金属内肽酶， 内皮素转化酶-1（ECE-1）和中性内肽酶（NEP）， 在调节胎盘内皮素-1（ET-1）水平中的作用 ET-1在糖尿病的发病机制中起着共同的作用， 先兆子痫和早产 目标2将检验以下假设： 最近高度鉴定了羧肽酶E家族的成员， 集中在大鼠胎盘中，也有加工多肽的功能 人体胎盘中的酶 具体目标3将检验以下假设： 新的胎盘蛋白还具有非酶功能。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's description): This K08 award will allow the candidate to obtain the scientific expertise and to conduct studies that will advance understanding of the functions of selected placental peptidases. Specifically, she will test hypotheses about the mechanisms by which alterations in the enzymes that process and metabolize Endothelin-1 are related to the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and pre-term labor and by which alterations in the carboxypeptidases that process a variety of peptide hormones and growth restriction. Specific aim 1 will test the hypothesis that two closely related metalloendopeptidases, endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP), function in the regulation of levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the placenta and that ET-1 functions as a common pathway in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and pre-term labor. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that recently identified members of the carboxypeptidase E family, highly concentrated in the rat placenta, also function as peptide processing enzymes in the human placenta. Specific aim 3 will test the hypothesis that the novel placental proteins also have nonenzymatic functions.