title: The secret life of ACE2 as a receptor for the SARS virus.
abstract: The membrane-associated carboxypeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an essential regulator of heart function. Now, Li at al. identify and characterize an unexpected second function of ACE2 as a partner of the SARS-CoV spike glycoprotein in mediating virus entry and cell fusion.
authors.affiliation: Human Immunovirology and Computational Biology Group, LECB, CCR, NCI-Frederick, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Dimiter S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dimitrov
mesh_terms: D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705307:ACE2 protein, human; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2