Inactivation of amniotic prorenin by ethyl diazoacetylglycinate

Human amniotic prorenin was found to be inactivated in a time dependent manner by ethyl diazoacetylglycinate. The inactivation required the presence of free cupric ion. Active renin from human amniotic fluid was also inactivated by ethyl diazoacetylglycinate, although the rate of inactivation was slower than that observed with prorenin. These results suggest that while the active site in prorenin is blocked or altered in a manner which prevents prorenin from interacting with angiotensinogen and the renin inhibitor pepstatin it is exposed to a degree which permits ethyl diazoacetylglycinate to react with one of the aspartic acid residues located within the active site.