Direct Renin Inhibitors

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Direct Renin Inhibitors
In all living organisms, central molecules exist that are vital to the survival of any organism. These central molecules are called proteins. Proteins are biological molecules that consist of numerous amino acids performing endless amount of tasks within a living organism. One of the important types of proteins is an enzyme. Enzymes are considered biological catalyst, as they are involved in the metabolic mechanisms essential to living organisms. All enzymes are considered catalysts due to their metabolic functions. Enzymes are highly distinct in structure and as a result in function as well. Enzymes act on molecules called substrate to create a product. The creation of the product occurs as result of the lowering of the activation energy by the enzyme. Consequently, this increases the rate and speed of the reaction and thus producing more products. In this process, the enzyme is unaffected in structure, and for that reason, the enzyme goes on to aid in the formation of more products. An extremely important enzyme to humans’ health is renin.
Renin is a vital part of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which controls the body’s blood pressure and extracellular fluid. The system, which acts a negative feedback mechanism to increase blood pressure, also plays a role in regulating action potentials due to changes in salt levels. The kidneys secrete renin, mainly the juxtaglomerular cells (JGCs), when changes in salt consumption or fall in blood pressure is detected. When a reduction in salt levels occurs, an upsurge in renin levels occur. This is only mediated when salt levels rise resulting in renin levels falling close to zero (Persson, 2003). Renin is classified as a hydrolase and contains 340 amino acids (Po...

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