Effects of Dietary Zinc Deprivation on the Activity of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Serum of Rats and Guinea Pigs

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Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a zinc-dependent peptidyl-dipeptide hydrolase found in blood and in the endothelium of many tissues. This study was designed to determine the effects of dietary zinc deprivation in rats and guinea pigs on ACE activity in serum. Rats were fed zinc-deficient (Vmax and Km. EDTA inhibited the enzyme activity, and the inhibition was totally reversible by zinc. Copper at 30 μM had no effect on ACE activity. The results of this study show that ACE activity in serum of rats and guinea pigs is highly sensitive to the dietary intake of zinc and suggest that metabolism of the vasoactive hormones, angiotensin II and bradykinin, might be affected in vivo.