1. We have characterized the human smooth muscle endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) present in the media of the endothelium-denuded human umbilical vein preparation. 2. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and ET-2 were potent constrictors of umbilical vein with EC50 values of 9.2 nM and 29.6 nM, respectively. ET-1 was at least 30 times more potent than ET-3 suggesting the presence of constrictor ETA receptors. Little or no response was obtained to the ETB-selective agonist sarafotoxin 6c. These data suggest that endothelin-mediated vasoconstriction is via ETA receptors in this preparation. 3. Autoradiographical visualization of endothelin receptors with subtype selective ligands confirmed the predominance of the ETA receptor in the media of umbilical vein. High density of binding was obtained with the ETA selective [125I]-PD151242, with much lower levels detected with the ETB selective [125I]-BQ3020. 4. Big ET-1 (EC50 = 42.7 nM) and big ET-2(1-38) (EC50 = 99.0 nM) were less potent than ET-1 and ET-2, respectively. Big ET-2(1-38) was more potent than its isoform big ET-2(1-37) with concentration-response curves to big ET-2(1-37) incomplete at 300 nM. No response was obtained to big ET-3 at concentrations up to 700 nM. The C-terminal fragments, big ET-1(22-38) and big ET-2(22-38) were inactive. 5. Responses to ET-1 were unaffected by either the neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitor thiorphan (10(-5) M) or by the dual NEP/ECE inhibitor phosphoramidon (10(-5) M). Big ET-1 was also unaffected by thiorphan but antagonized in a concentration-dependent manner by phosphoramidon (10(-5) M and 10(-4) M). 6. Addition of all four big endothelin peptides to human umbilical vein preparations resulted in detectable amounts of ET-IR in the bathing medium. Therefore, although big ET-3 was functionally inactive this reflects the low potency of ET-3 at the ETA receptor rather than the lack of ability of this smooth muscle ECE to convert big ET-3 to ET-3. 7. To conclude we have demonstrated the presence of a phosphoramidon-sensitive ECE on the smooth muscle layer of the human umbilical vein which can convert big ET-1, big ET-2(1-37), big ET-2(1-38) and big ET-3 to their mature biologically active forms. The precise subcellular localization of this enzyme and its physiological relevance remains to be determined.