ACE Antibody / Angiotensin-converting enzyme

Angiotensin-converting enzyme, an exopeptidase, is a circulating enzyme that participates in the body's renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which mediates extracellular volume (i.e. that of the blood plasma, lymph and interstitial fluid), and arterial vasoconstriction. It is secreted by pulmonary and renal endothelial cells and catalyzes the conversion of decapeptide angiotensin I to octapeptide angiotensin II. Using a DNA marker at the growth hormone gene locus, which they characterized as 'extremely polymorphic' and which showed no recombination with ACE, the gene was mapped to 17q22-q24, consistent with the in situ hybridization mapping to 17q23. ACE, or kininase II, is a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase that plays an important role in blood pressure regulation and electrolyte balance by hydrolyzing angiotensin I into angiotensin II, a potent vasopressor, and aldosterone-stimulating peptide. The enzyme is also able to inactivate bradykinin, a potent vasodilator.