Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is the major regulator of mineralocorticoid synthesis and it is in the renin/angiotensin system. Angiotensin-converting enzyme is responsible for several vascular diseases. It also relates to erectile dysfunction. However, in-depth analysis on the effect of genetic I/D polymorphism of ACE has never been performed. The molecular mechanisms for each genotype expression in erectile dysfunction are poorly understood.
Design: Gene ontology technique.
Setting: Chulalongkorn University Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Patient(s): Men with erectile dysfunction.
Interventions: In the present study, I have used a new gene ontology technique to predict the molecular function and biological process for the II, ID, and DD genotypes of ACE.
Main outcome measure(s): Molecular function and biological process.
Result(s): According to this gene ontology study, it can be shown that the DD genotype lacks molecular function and biological process.
Conclusion(s): The lack of carboxypeptidase activity in DD genotype might be the clue for erectile dysfunction pathogenesis.