METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING UROTENSIN 2 CONVERTASE INHIBITORS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for identifying urotensin 2-converting enzyme activities and inhibitors of said enzyme activities. A protein fraction is separated into fractions by one or more chromatography steps, at least one thereof being an affinity chromatography step. The urotensin 2-converting enzyme activities of the separated fractions are determined, and a fraction having urotensin 2-converting activity is used in a method for identifying modulators of urotensin 2-converting enzyme activities. According to said method, a chemical compound is added to a protein preparation having urotensin 2-converting activity and the resulting urotensin 2-converting activity is measured. The invention furthermore discloses in particular a method for identifying urotensin 2-converting enzyme activities, wherein the complement factor I or a mixture of the complement factor I and H are used as urotensin 2-converting enzyme.