Insect angiotensin-converting enzyme. A processing enzyme with broad substrate specificity and a role in reproduction

Insect angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a peptidyl dipeptidase that removes dipeptides and dipeptideamides from the C-terminus of a broad range of in vitro oligopeptide substrates. In mammals, ACE has important roles in blood homeostasis and a recently recognized, but as yet undefined, role in the fertility of male mice. High levels of ACE are found in the male reproductive tissues of several insect species, and emerging data indicates an important role for the enzyme in insect reproduction. In this paper we review some of the recent findings about insect ACE, and we speculate as to the physiological role of this enzyme in insect reproduction.