Fig. 2.
Major components of the RAS pathway. ACE and ACE2 play counterbalancing roles in metabolism of the angiotensin family peptides. The major role of ACE2 is to convert the vasoconstrictor peptide Ang II to a protective peptide Ang-(1−7). NEP can also produce Ang-(1−7) from Ang I as such contributing to its protective role. The binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 will reduce its ability to produce Ang-(1−7) leading to the pathology of COVID-19. In this condition NEP will play a compensatory role in partially maintaining the RAS balance. The numbers in the figures represent the relative efficiency of hydrolysis of the peptides by the respective enzymes (kcat/Km) [15].