Novel carboxypeptidase for processing of animal nerve tissue enkephalins

New carboxypeptidase which catalyzes the C-terminal arginine splitting from hexapeptide (an enkephalin precursor) Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg is revealed in the cat nerve tissue. The enzyme is activated by cobalt ions, the pH action optimum being 7.6. A relatively high activity of carboxypeptidase in the hypothalamus, midbrain and medulla oblongata permits supposing that it is the key enzyme of the enkephalin processing in areas of the limbic brain system.