Research Alert
Research published ahead of print in the journal Function suggests the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT1, a protein found in the intestines, form a physiological “functional unit.”
ACE2, an enzyme found abundantly in the intestines, heart and kidneys, is the entry point for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Gastrointestinal symptoms are reported in approximately half of all people diagnosed with COVID-19.
Researchers found that the interaction between B(0)AT1 in the epithelial cells of the small intestine and ACE2, functioning as a combined unit, play a major role in contributing to gastrointestinal symptoms associated with COVD-19.
“These findings advance the understanding of the physiology of B(0)AT1 interaction with ACE2 in the gut, and thereby potentially contribute to translational developments designed to treat or mitigate COVID-19 variant outbreaks and/or [gastrointestinal] symptom persistence in long-haul Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2,” the researchers wrote.
Read the full article, “B(0)AT1 amino acid transporter complexed with SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 forms a heterodimer functional unit: in situ conformation using radiation inactivation analysis.” Contact the APS Communications Office to schedule an interview with the research team.
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