PEPTIDE PROCESSING ENZYMES IN THE PLACENTA

描述(改编自申请者的描述)：本K08奖项将 允许候选人获得科学专业知识并进行 研究将促进对选定的功能的理解 胎盘肽酶。具体地说，她将测试关于 处理和代谢的酶的变化的机制 内皮素-1与子痫前期和早产儿发病有关 以及由此引起的加工过程中的羧肽酶的变化 多肽激素的种类和生长限制。具体目标1将 测试两个密切相关的金属内肽酶， 内皮素转换酶-1(ECE1)和中性内肽酶(NEP)， 内皮素-1在胎盘水平调节中的作用 ET-1在糖尿病的发病机制中起共同作用。 先兆子痫和早产。目标2将检验这一假设 最近发现的羧基肽酶E家族成员，高度 集中在大鼠胎盘中，也具有多肽加工功能 人体胎盘中的酶。具体目标3将检验这一假设 新的胎盘蛋白也具有非酶功能。

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.