Background-Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a pleiotropic monocarboxypeptidase capable of metabolizing several peptide substrates. We hypothesized that ACE2 is a negative regulator of angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated signaling and its adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Methods and Results-Ang II infusion (1.5 mg ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ d Ϫ1) for 14 days resulted in worsening cardiac fibrosis and pathological hypertrophy in ACE2 knockout (Ace2 Ϫ/y ) mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Daily treatment of Ang II-infused wild-type mice with recombinant human ACE2 (rhACE2; 2 mg ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ d Ϫ1 IP) blunted the hypertrophic response and expression of hypertrophy markers and reduced Ang II-induced superoxide production. Ang II-mediated myocardial fibrosis and expression of procollagen type I␣1, procollagen type III␣1, transforming growth factor-␤1, and fibronectin were also suppressed by rhACE2. Ang II-induced diastolic dysfunction was inhibited by rhACE2 in association with reduced plasma and myocardial Ang II and increased plasma Ang 1-7 levels. rhACE2 treatment inhibited Ang II-mediated activation of protein kinase C-␣ and protein kinase C-␤1 protein levels and phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated 1/2, Janus kinase 2, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathways in wild-type mice. A subpressor dose of Ang II (0.15 mg ⅐ kg) resulted in a milder phenotype that was strikingly attenuated by rhACE2 (2 mg ⅐ kgIn adult ventricular cardiomyocytes and cardiofibroblasts, Ang II-mediated superoxide generation, collagen production, and extracellular signal-regulated 1/2 signaling were inhibited by rhACE2 in an Ang 1-7-dependent manner. Importantly, rhACE2 partially prevented the development of dilated cardiomyopathy in pressure-overloaded wild-type mice. Conclusions-Elevated Ang II induced hypertension, myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction, which were exacerbated by ACE2 deficiency, whereas rhACE2 attenuated Ang II-and pressure-overload-induced adverse myocardial remodeling. Hence, ACE2 is an important negative regulator of Ang II-induced heart disease and suppresses adverse myocardial remodeling. (Circulation. 2010;122:717-728.)Key Words: angiotensin Ⅲ signal transduction Ⅲ hypertrophy Ⅲ remodeling Ⅲ diastole A ctivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the subsequent generation of angiotensin (Ang) II are important mediators of myocardial fibrosis, pathological hypertrophy, and heart failure. 1-3 Pathological hypertrophy and increased myocardial interstitial fibrosis contribute to increased ventricular wall stiffness, thereby impairing cardiac diastolic function, and represent an important risk factor for heart failure in experimental models and patients. 4 -6 Drugs that target Ang II and the Ang II type 1 receptor (AT 1 ) are widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. 7 Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a pleiotropic monocarboxypeptidase capable of metabo...

The phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum secretes a very diverse pool of glycoside hydrolases (GHs) aimed at degrading plant cell walls. ␣-L-Arabinanases are essential GHs participating in the complete hydrolysis of hemicellulose, a natural resource for various industrial processes, such as bioethanol or pharmaceuticals production. Arb93A, the exo-1,5-␣-L-arabinanase of F. graminearum encoded by the gene fg03054.1, belongs to the GH93 family, for which no structural data exists. The enzyme is highly active (1065 units/mg) and displays a strict substrate specificity for linear ␣-1,5-L-arabinan. Biochemical assays and NMR experiments demonstrated that the enzyme releases ␣-1,5-L-arabinobiose from the nonreducing end of the polysaccharide. We determined the crystal structure of the native enzyme and its complex with ␣-1,5-L-arabinobiose, a degradation product of ␣-Me-1,5-L-arabinotetraose, at 1.85 and 2.05 Å resolution, respectively. Arb93A is a monomeric enzyme, which presents the six-bladed ␤-propeller fold characteristic of sialidases of clan GHE. The configuration of the bound arabinobiose is consistent with the retaining mechanism proposed for the GH93 family. Catalytic residues were proposed from the structural analysis, and site-directed mutagenesis was used to validate their role. They are significantly different from those observed for GHE sialidases.The plant cell wall consists mainly of a complex aggregation of polysaccharides, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. Hemicellulose is one of the most abundant renewable biopolymers on earth and constitutes an important source of energy for the biofuel industry. It represents 20 -40% of plant biomass and is principally composed of pentoses, such as xylose and arabinose (1). Due to the high complexity and structural variability of this polysaccharide, many enzymes are necessary for its complete degradation (2). A number of microorganisms are able to break down hemicellulose, through the action of various glycoside hydrolases (GHs).2 The latter catalyze the cleavage of glycosidic bonds between sugars with either inversion or retention of the anomeric configuration (3). GHs have been classified into more than 114 different families based on their amino acid sequence similarity (CAZY (Carbohydrate Active Enzymes) server, available on the World Wide Web) (4, 5).␣-L-Arabinanases (EC 3.2.1.-) are accessory hemicellulases that hydrolyze ␣-L-arabinofuranosic linkages and act synergistically with other GHs to break down hemicellulose fully (6). These enzymes have become of interest in recent years because of their potential rate-limiting role in the degradation of lignocelluloses and their practical application in various industrial processes, such as the production of important medicinal compounds, the improvement of wine flavors, pulp treatment, juice clarification, the production of bioethanol, and the synthesis of oligosaccharides (7). According to the CAZY classification, ␣-Larabinanases are present in six GH families (3,43,51,54, 62, and 93) whose ...