Endothelin Converting Enzyme-1 phosphorylation and trafficking.

Endothelin Converting Enzyme-1 (ECE-1) plays a significant role in the regulation of vascular tone and hence blood pressure. It has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, female malignancies and Alzheimer's disease. Four different isoforms of ECE-1 exist and have varying degrees of distribution throughout the cell. Production of ET-1 by ECE-1 occurs at the cell surface and the expression and localisation of ECE-1 is the rate limiting step in the production of ET-1. This review looks at the current knowledge on ECE-1 phosphorylation and other stimuli which act induce trafficking of ECE-1 to the cell surface.