Active site mutations change the cleavage specificity of neprilysin.

Neprilysin (NEP), a member of the M13 subgroup of the zinc-dependent endopeptidase family is a membrane bound peptidase capable of cleaving a variety of physiological peptides. We have generated a series of neprilysin variants containing mutations at either one of two active site residues, Phe(563) and Ser(546). Among the mutants studied in detail we observed changes in their activity towards leucine(5)-enkephalin, insulin B chain, and amyloid β(1-40).