The heart's ace

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is an essential cardiovascular gene that regulates heart function and morphogenesis.

Written byTudor Toma
| 1 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

The genetic mechanisms that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease have been largely unknown. In 20 June Nature, Michael Crackower and colleagues at Amgen Research Institute/Ontario Cancer Institute show that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is an essential regulator of heart function (Nature 2002, 417:822-828).

Crackower et al. used three rat models of hypertension and observed that angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ace2) maps to a defined quantitative trait locus on the X chromosome in all hypertensive rat strains. In these animals, ACE2 messenger RNA and protein expression were markedly reduced.

In addition, they generated ACE2 knockout mice and observed impaired contractility, increased angiotensin II levels and upregulated hypoxia-induced genes in the heart. Genetic ablation of ACE on an ACE2 mutant background completely rescued the cardiac phenotype. But ACER (a Drosophila ACE2 homologue) mutant flies have defective heart morphogenesis.

"The paper by Crackower et al. embodies an important theme in modern angiotensin ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Share
Image of small blue creatures called Nergals. Some have hearts above their heads, which signify friendship. There is one Nergal who is sneezing and losing health, which is denoted by minus one signs floating around it.
June 2025, Issue 1

Nergal Networks: Where Friendship Meets Infection

A citizen science game explores how social choices and networks can influence how an illness moves through a population.

View this Issue
Illustrated plasmids in bright fluorescent colors

Enhancing Elution of Plasmid DNA

cytiva logo
An illustration of green lentiviral particles.

Maximizing Lentivirus Recovery

cytiva logo
Explore new strategies for improving plasmid DNA manufacturing workflows.

Overcoming Obstacles in Plasmid DNA Manufacturing

cytiva logo
Unraveling Complex Biology with Advanced Multiomics Technology

Unraveling Complex Biology with Five-Dimensional Multiomics

Element Bioscience Logo

Products

The Scientist Placeholder Image

Waters Enhances Alliance iS HPLC System Software, Setting a New Standard for End-to-End Traceability and Data Integrity 

The Scientist Placeholder Image

Agilent Unveils the Next Generation in LC-Mass Detection: The InfinityLab Pro iQ Series

agilent-logo

Agilent Announces the Enhanced 8850 Gas Chromatograph

parse-biosciences-logo

Pioneering Cancer Plasticity Atlas will help Predict Response to Cancer Therapies