SARS-CoV utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to infect host cells. What is ACE2? – The New Neander's Medical

SARS-CoV utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to infect host cells. What is ACE2?

Figure 2 Opposing cardiovascular effects of the two major peptides of the renin– angiotensin system, Ang II and Ang-(1–7). The intersection between these two arms of the system is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), since this enzyme can cleave the vasoconstrictor/proliferative peptide Ang II to form the vasodilator/antiproliferative fragment Ang-(1–7). AT1, Ang II type 1 receptor; Mas, Ang-(1–7) receptor. Ang, angiotensin. Source: Santos, Journal of Endocrinology (2013)216, R1–R17.

SARS-CoV-2 can infect cells that prominently express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a plasma membrane-bound ectoenzyme. Below, we share our notes on what angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is and on its role in human physiology.