Neutral endopeptidase (neprilysin or NEP, EC 3.4.24.11) is a zinc metallo-endopeptidase expressed in many eukaryotic cell types and displaying several important physiological roles. In the brain (and central nervous system), this enzyme is involved in the molecular mechanism of pain by its action in the degradation of enkephalin molecules. In the kidney, NEP is implicated in the degradation of regulatory factors involved in the control of arterial pressure, including atrial natriuretic peptide and bradykinin. In this study we assessed the potential of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to overproduce rabbit NEP and secreted NEP (sNEP, a soluble derivative of this integral membrane protein). Both recombinant NEP and sNEP were produced at high levels (5 mg\l) in this system. Enzymic studies revealed that these recombinant proteins were fully active and exhibit kinetic parameters similar to those of the bona fide enzyme.