The human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (hACE2) is a type I transmembrane metallocarboxy-peptidase with homology to ACE, an regulator in the Renin-Angiotensin system (RAS) and long-known as a target for the treatment of hypertension.
hACE2 is expressed at the surface of cells of the human lungs, arteries, kidneys, heart and intestine – all tissues shown to harbor SARS-CoV. The function of ACE-2 is known as controlling blood pressure. This is accomplished by the hydrolysis of a small peptide hormone called Angiotensin II into angiotensin 1-7 by ACE and other endopeptidases. Angiotensin 1-7 acts in a vasoconstricting manner and is therefore involved in diabetes, hypertension and cardiac function in general.
Recently it became known, that the new Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 as the entry point into alveolar cells of the lungs, where it replicates and causes the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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Fig. 1.: Structural model of the human ACE2 protein (amino acids 1-597, green) bound to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 RBD domain (red).
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Fig. 2.: FACS analysis of stable HEK293 pcDNA_IN-WT-ACE2 cells stained with our SARS-CoV-2 S1(RBD) (P2020-001) and anti-His antibody (APC)
Blue: parental HEK293 cells; Red: HEK293 pcDNA_IN-WT-ACE2
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