Angiotensins have a crucial role in blood pressure regulation and are generated by cleavage of a larger protein, angiotensinogen, by the enzyme renin. Structures of angiotensinogen alone and in complex with renin show that a large conformational change is required to expose the renin-cleavage site. The authors also show that this transition is regulated by oxidation and that women with pre-eclampsia have higher levels of the more active, oxidized, form.
- Aiwu Zhou
- Robin W. Carrell
- Randy J. Read