The (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR), which is a recently discovered molecule of the renin-angiotensin system, plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the molecular properties and the subcellular distribution of (P)RR remain controversial. In this study, (P)RR-Venus in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells ((P)RR-Venus-CHO) or endogenous (P)RR in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were constitutively cleaved without any stimulation, and secretion of the aminoterminal fragment (NTF-(P)RR) into the media was determined using western blot analysis. Immunofluorescent analysis showed robust expression of (P)RR in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or the Golgi but not in the plasma membrane. Moreover, we identified ADAM19, which is expressed in the Golgi, as one of cleaving proteases of (P)RR. Transfected ADAM19 evoked the shedding of (P)RR, whereas transfected dominant negative ADAM19 suppressed it. Although (P)RR contains a furin cleavage site, neither the furin-deficient LoVo cells nor furin inhibitor-treated VSMC lost NTF-(P)RR in the media. The secreted NTF-(P)RR induced the renin activity of prorenin in the extracellular space. We describe that (P)RR is mainly localized in the subcellular organelles, such as the ER and Golgi, and (P)RR is cleaved by ADAM19 in the Golgi resulting in two fragments, NTF-(P)RR and CTF-(P)RR. These results may suggest that (P)RR is predominantly secreted into the extracellular space. Hypertension Research (2011) 34, 599-605; doi:10.1038/hr.2010.284; published online 27 January 2011Keywords: ADAM19; ectodomain shedding; (pro)renin receptor; renin-angiotensin system INTRODUCTION The (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) is a recently discovered molecule of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which plays pivotal roles in the regulation of the cardiovascular system under normal and pathological conditions. (P)RR binds both renin and prorenin, which is the precursor form of renin. 1 Although the binding of renin to (P)RR may increase its catalytic activity, the binding affinity between (P)RR and renin is lower than that of (P)RR and prorenin. These results indicate that it may be necessary to focus on the interaction between (P)RR and prorenin. Prorenin does not display protease activity in the plasma because the enzymatic cleft is covered by the prosegment. 2 However, the binding of prorenin to (P)RR evokes the renin activity without removal of its prosegment. This nonproteolytic activation of prorenin contributes to the activation of the local RAS. In addition to the enzymatic activity, renin/prorenin has been shown to provide other (P)RR-mediated effects. 3 The binding of renin/prorenin to (P)RR induces the activation of intracellular signaling, including the p38 MAP kinase-HSP27 cascade, the PI3K pathway and the ERK 1/2 pathway; these effects occur independently of angiotensin II, which is a final product of RAS. 2,4,5 Although this evidence strongly supports (P)RR localization in the plasma membrane, the subcellular localization of (P)RR remains unknown. (P)R...