The effect of different chemical reagents on renin has
been investigated. After treatment of hog renin with acetic anhydride,
1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, diazobenzene sulfonic acid and phenyl
isocyanate, the enzymic activity assayed both biologically and chemically
was depressed, whereas no effect occurred after treatment with
diisopropyl fluorophosphate, p-chloromercuribenzoate and after dialysis
against EDTA. Human renin, too, is inactivated by acetylation,
diazo coupling and dinitrobenzoylation. The results indicate that one
or several amino groups of the renin molecule are essential for enzymic activity.