Endopeptidase-24.11 (E-24.11, EC 3.4.24.11) is widely believed to play a physiological role in metabolizing atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Since the discovery of ANP, new natriuretic peptides have been isolated and other peptides synthesized as receptor ligands. The hydrolysis in vitro of six related peptides by the endopeptidase has been studied, mainly by h.p.l.c. The initial attack on the 32-residue form of pig brain natriuretic peptide (pBNP-32) was shown to be at the Ser20-Leu21 bond, as had been previously shown for the 26-residue form. In contrast, human brain natriuretic peptide-32 (hBNP-32), which differs in ten residues from pBNP-32, was attacked first at the Met4-Val5 bond, releasing the N-terminal tetrapeptide, and only later at bonds within the ring: at Arg17-Ile18 and subsequently at four other sites. Urodilatin, which has a four-residue extension at the N-terminus compared with alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide-28 (alpha-hANP), was degraded at about half the rate of the latter, though the C-terminal Phe-Arg-Tyr was released at the same rate. The 22-residue C-type natriuretic peptide was hydrolysed more rapidly than alpha-hANP, as were two C-receptor ligands (peptides with deletions within the ring): C-ANP4-23 (rANP4-23 des-Gln18,Ser19,Gly20,Leu21,Gly22) and SC 46542 (hANP5-28 des-Phe8,Gly9,Ala17,Gln18). Angiotensin-converting enzyme failed to hydrolyse pBNP-32, hBNP-32 or 125I-rat (r) ANP, even after prolonged incubation. Km and kcat values were determined for the hydrolysis of alpha-hANP, porcine BNP-26, porcine BNP-32 and 125I-rANP by E-24.11. Ki values were determined for six peptides, alpha-hANP, urodilatin, hBNP-32, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), SC 46542 and C-type natriuretic peptide (C-ANP4-23), in radiometric assays of E-24.11 with either [125I] insulin B chain or [125I] rANP as substrate. The Ki values (2.5-13 microM) for CNP were the lowest of any of the group, whereas those for hBNP-32 (151-172 microM) were the highest. The physiological significance of these results is discussed, especially in regard to the relative resistance of hBNP-32 to attack and the ability of the C-receptor ligands to compete with natriuretic peptides for hydrolysis by E-24.11.