Phenacetin N-deacetylase and its non-identity with the serotonin sensitive aryl acylamidase of brain

Abstract

Phenacetin N-deacetylase was characterized in monkey brain. The enzyme needed Triton X-100 for maximal extraction and it had a high specific activity in cerebellum and in the nuclear fraction of whole monkey brain. It differed from the brain aryl acylamidase in both the regional and subcellular distributions. Brain aryl acylamidase purified by affinity chromatography was ineffective in deacetylating phenacetin. All the potent inhibitors of brain aryl acylamidase such as serotonin, tryptamine, acetylcholine and its analogues and neostigmine had no effect on phenacetin deacetylase. However, brain pehnacetin deacetylase was moderately inhibited by indole-3-acetic acid and 5-hydroxy indole-3-acetic acid properties similar to those of liver aryl acylamidase. Acetaminophen was not deacetylated by the brain phenacetin deacetylase.