CV2007: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2, ACE2

Specifications

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2) is the first known human homologue of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). It is a membrane-associated and secreted enzyme that is structurally divided into 3 modules: an apparent signal peptide, a single metalloprotease active site, and a transmembrane domain. ACE2 is a critical regulator of blood volume, systemic vascular resistance, and thus cardiovascular homeostasis. SARS and HCoV-NL63 viruses use their surface protein Spike glycoprotein to bind to human ACE-2 receptor. The S protein is cleaved into 2 subunits, S1 and S2, during the COVID-19 infection. S1 contains the receptor binding domain (RBD) which enables coronaviruses to bind to the peptidase domain (PD) of ACE2. These events culminate in viral entry at the basis of the infection. Therefore, ACE2 has become a high focus research target in the fight against COVID-19.

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