Protein that mixes heartbeat

2002/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia

Canadian researchers discover a protein that affects the functioning of the heart. It is called ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). For example, mice that do not contain this protein usually have irregular heart beats. In turn, rats containing a lot of this protein are elevated to blood pressure.

Josef Penninger, a professor at the University of Toronto, Canada, says he still doesn't know how these proteins work. But the mice they study, like humans, have highlighted that they suffer from heart disease.

Scientist Penninger believes that the amount of ACE2 proteins can predict heart problems in humans: It says the function of the ACE2 protein is probably the drop in blood pressure. Mice that do not contain this gene are very vulnerable, as their angiotensin II have a high toxic level. The ACE2 gene, which is only found in the heart and kidney, is a source of serious consequences for scientists.