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Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE, E.C.3.4.15.1) has been recently shown to contain two very similar domains, each of which bears a functional active site hydrolyzing Hip-His-Leu or angiotensin I (AI). The substrate specificity of the two active sites of ACE was compared using wild-type recombinant ACE and mutants, where one active site is suppressed by deletion or inactivated by mutations of 2 histidines coordinating an essential zinc atom. Both active sites converted bradykinin (BK) to BK1-7 and BK1-5 with similar kinetics and with Kappm at least 30 times lower and kcat/kappm 10 times higher than for AI. The carboxyl-terminal active site, but not the amino-terminal site, was activated by chloride; however, chloride activation was minimal compared with AI. Both domains also hydrolyzed substance P and cleaved a carboxyl-terminal protected dipeptide and tripeptide. The carboxyl-terminal active site was more …