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Exploring the evolutionary conservation and functional implications of Endothelin Converting Enzyme 1 (ECE1) in
Shuyuan Zhang1,2, Zihao Yan1,2, Ayqeqan Nurmamat1,2
1College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116081, China.
Abstract:
ECE1 is involved in the development of the lamprey embryonic heart. Endothelin converting enzyme 1 (ECE1) is a key enzyme for the production of endothelin, which, as a potent vasoconstrictor, plays a central role in regulating the growth and differentiation of cardiomyocytes and smooth muscle cells. The enzyme is widely expressed in human tissues and is significantly upregulated in a variety of cancers, with a key impact on the development and invasiveness of cancer. In addition, ECE1 is also involved in the development of neural crest cell-derived organs such as the heart. In vertebrates, jawed animals (such as mammals) mainly express ECE1, ECE1L, and ECE2 genes, but the function of ECE genes in jawless animals (such as the lamprey) has not yet been clarified. In this study, the ECE1 gene was cloned from the Lethenteron reissneri, and bioinformatics analysis showed that it had a high degree of similarity with the ECE1 of jawed vertebrates. This discovery provides important clues for exploring the role of ECE1 in lamprey biology, especially its potential functions in signal transduction, nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, and immune diseases.
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