Mouse Renin-1, also knownas Ren-1, Angiotensinogenase and Kidney renin, is a member ofthe peptidase A1 family. Renin-1 is synthesized by the juxtaglomerularcells of the kidney in response to decreased blood pressure and sodiumconcentration. androgen and thyroid hormones influence levels of Renin-1 inmouse submandibular gland (SMG) primarily by regulating the amount of Renin-1mRNA available for translation. Renin-1 is a highly specific endopeptidase,whose only known function is to generate angiotensin I from angiotensinogen inthe plasma, initiating a cascade of reactions that produce an elevation ofblood pressure and increased sodium retention by the kidney. It is expressed atrelatively low levels in mouse SMG and kidney. Ren-2 is expressed at highlevels in the mouse SMG and at very low levels, if at all, in the kidney. Ren-1and Ren-2 are closely linked on mouse chromosome 1, show extensive homology incoding and noncoding regions and provide a model for studying the regulation ofgene expression.