Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.15.1 (ACE)
 18,300 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Peptide hormones are involved in the paracrine regulation of several physiological processes. A possible function of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) in mammalian reproduction has been discussed. To evaluate its putative role in spermatogenesis, we searched for components of the KKS (kallikrein, kininases, kinin receptor) in the rat testis. Specific immunostaining demonstrated that the kininogenase tissue kallikrein was present in round and elongated spermatids. Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, peritubular cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes were not stained. Bradykinin in the supernatant of Sertoli cell cultures was effectively degraded. The resulting metabolites were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Specific protease inhibition in the degrading experiments confirmed the occurrence of several metalloproteases on Sertoli cell membranes, including neutral metalloendopeptidases (NEP 24.11 and NEP 24.15), kininase type II (angiotensin converting enzyme, ACE), and kininase type I (metallocarboxypeptidase). Northern blots hybridized with a bradykinin B2 receptor probe showed the presence of B2 receptor mRNA in testis homogenate and Sertoli cell extract. All components of the kallikrein-kinin system are present within the seminiferous epithelium of the rat. Therefore, this paracrine peptide system may play a role in the regulation of Sertoli cell function or in the Sertoli cell-germ cell crosstalk.
 ...
PMID:Elements of the kallikrein-kinin system are present in rat seminiferous epithelium. 1061 98

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a recently identified human homolog of ACE, is a novel metallocarboxypeptidase with specificity, tissue distribution, and function distinct from those of ACE. ACE2 may play a unique role in the renin-angiotensin system and mediate cardiovascular and renal function. Here we report the discovery of ACE2 peptide inhibitors through selection of constrained peptide libraries displayed on phage. Six constrained peptide libraries were constructed and selected against FLAG-tagged ACE2 target. ACE2 peptide binders were identified and classified into five groups, based on their effects on ACE2 activity. Peptides from the first three classes exhibited none, weak, or moderate inhibition on ACE2. Peptides from the fourth class exhibited strong inhibition, with equilibrium inhibition constants (K(i) values) from 0.38 to 1.7 microm. Peptides from the fifth class exhibited very strong inhibition, with K(i) values < 0.14 microm. The most potent inhibitor, DX600, had a K(i) of 2.8 nm. Steady-state enzyme kinetic analysis showed that these potent ACE2 inhibitors exhibited a mixed competitive and non-competitive type of inhibition. They were not hydrolyzed by ACE2. Furthermore, they did not inhibit ACE activity, and thus were specific to ACE2. Finally, they also inhibited ACE2 activity toward its natural substrate angiotensin I, suggesting that they would be functional in vivo. As novel ACE2-specific peptide inhibitors, they should be useful in elucidation of ACE2 in vivo function, thus contributing to our better understanding of the biology of cardiovascular regulation. Our results also demonstrate that library selection by phage display technology can be a rapid and efficient way to discover potent and specific protease inhibitors.
 ...
PMID:Novel peptide inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. 1260 57

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a recently discovered homologue of the key enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, the angiotensin-converting enzyme. The ACE2 enzyme is mainly expressed in cardiac blood vessels and tubular epithelia of the kidneys. Together with ACE2's unique metallocarboxypeptidase activity, the restricted tissue distribution suggests a distinctive physiological function in blood pressure, blood flow and fluid regulation. The ace2 gene was mapped to quantitative trait loci affecting susceptibility to hypertension in rats. Furthermore, ACE2 appears to be a negative regulator of ACE in the heart. ACE2 messenger RNA and protein levels are substantially regulated in the kidney of diabetic and pregnant rats. The mechanism of ACE2 function and its physiologic significance are not yet fully understood; however, as ACE2 differs in its specificity and physiological role from ACE, this opens a new potential venue for drug discovery aimed at cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetic complications.
 ...
PMID:Physiological roles of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. 1554 72