Genotyping of the Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism

Intron 16 of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene (ACE) contains an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymor-phism that is characterized by the presence (I allele) or absence (D allele) of a 289-bp incomplete alu type repeat sequence (1, 2). The D allele has been related to higher concentrations of ACE mRNA in cells and increased ACE concentration and activity in plasma and serum (1, 3–6). There is great continuing interest in the link between the ACE I/D polymorphism and interindividual variations in physiologic properties and disease susceptibility. Re-ported associations include physical activity and endur-ance, drug response, and neuropathologic, cardiac, and cardiovascular diseases (7–20). However, a considerable number of findings are in disagreement with the existence of such relationships (21–31), and more work is require