A peptidase, isolated from rat testes, is inhibited by 1 mM o-phenanthroline, 1 microM N-(1-(R,S)-carboxyl-3-phenylpropyl)-Ala-Ala-Phe-p-aminobenzoate, and 6 mM Pro-Ile, properties similar to those ascribed to endopeptidase 24.16. The enzyme hydrolyzes dynorphin A-8, neurotensin 1-13, angiotensin I, and substance P. Kinetic analysis of a series of angiotensin I analogs showed that substitutions at P-1, P-1', or P-2' had little effect on Km or Kcat. Variation of peptide size with a series of dynorphin A peptides showed chain length to be significant. The peptidase cleaved dynorphin A-8 at both Leu5-Arg6 and Arg6-Arg7, and neurotensin 1-13 at Pro10-Tyr11 and Arg8-Arg9. In contrast, rat endopeptidase 24.16 cleaves dynorphin A-8 at Gly4-Leu5 and Leu5-Arg6, and neurotensin 1-13 only at Pro10-Tyr11. These findings, as well as the observation that endopeptidase 24.16 exhibits a considerably higher affinity for Pro-Ile, Ki = 90 microM, indicates the peptidase isolated in this study is related to, but distinct from, rat endopeptidase 24.16. We propose that this new endopeptidase be referred to as endopeptidase 24.16B, while the originally described enzyme be referred to as endopeptidase 24.16A.