Angiotensin-converting enzyme
Angiotensin-converting enzyme monomer, Drosophila melanogaster | |||||||||
| Identifiers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EC no. | 3.4.15.1 | ||||||||
| CAS no. | 9015-82-1 | ||||||||
| Databases | |||||||||
| IntEnz | IntEnz view | ||||||||
| BRENDA | BRENDA entry | ||||||||
| ExPASy | NiceZyme view | ||||||||
| KEGG | KEGG entry | ||||||||
| MetaCyc | metabolic pathway | ||||||||
| PRIAM | profile | ||||||||
| PDB structures | RCSB PDB PDBe PDBsum | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1), or ACE, is a central component of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), which controls blood pressure by regulating the volume of fluids in the body. It converts the hormone angiotensin I to the active vasoconstrictor angiotensin II. Therefore, ACE indirectly increases blood pressure by causing blood vessels to constrict. ACE inhibitors are widely used as pharmaceutical drugs for treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Other lesser known functions of ACE are degradation of bradykinin, substance P and amyloid beta-protein.