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Schmidt FC, Fitz K, Feilen LP, Okochi M, Steiner H, Langosch D. Different transmembrane domains determine the specificity and efficiency of the cleavage activity of the γ-secretase subunit presenilin. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104626. [PMID: 36944398 PMCID: PMC10164903 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The γ-secretase complex catalyzes the intramembrane cleavage of C99, a carboxy-terminal fragment of the amyloid precursor protein. Two paralogs of its catalytic subunit presenilin (PS1 and PS2) are expressed which are autocatalytically cleaved into an N-terminal and a C-terminal fragment during maturation of γ-secretase. In this study, we compared the efficiency and specificity of C99 cleavage by PS1- and PS2-containing γ-secretases. Mass spectrometric analysis of cleavage products obtained in cell-free and cell-based assays revealed that the previously described lower amyloid-β (Aβ)38 generation by PS2 is accompanied by a reciprocal increase in Aβ37 production. We further found PS1 and PS2 to show different preferences in the choice of the initial cleavage site of C99. However, the differences in Aβ38 and Aβ37 generation appear to mainly result from altered subsequent stepwise cleavage of Aβ peptides. Apart from these differences in cleavage specificity, we confirmed a lower efficiency of initial C99 cleavage by PS2 using a detergent-solubilized γ-secretase system. By investigating chimeric PS1/2 molecules, we show that the membrane-embedded, nonconserved residues of the N-terminal fragment mainly account for the differential cleavage efficiency and specificity of both presenilins. At the level of individual transmembrane domains (TMDs), TMD3 was identified as a major modulator of initial cleavage site specificity. The efficiency of endoproteolysis strongly depends on nonconserved TMD6 residues at the interface to TMD2, i.e., at a putative gate of substrate entry. Taken together, our results highlight the role of individual presenilin TMDs in the cleavage of C99 and the generation of Aβ peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian C Schmidt
- Biopolymer Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Katja Fitz
- Biopolymer Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Lukas P Feilen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Masayasu Okochi
- Neuropsychiatry, Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Integrated Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Harald Steiner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany; Division of Metabolic Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Dieter Langosch
- Biopolymer Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
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Eketjäll S, Janson J, Kaspersson K, Bogstedt A, Jeppsson F, Fälting J, Haeberlein SB, Kugler AR, Alexander RC, Cebers G. AZD3293: A Novel, Orally Active BACE1 Inhibitor with High Potency and Permeability and Markedly Slow Off-Rate Kinetics. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 50:1109-23. [PMID: 26890753 PMCID: PMC4927864 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of pathological, biomarker, genetic, and mechanistic data suggests that amyloid accumulation, as a result of changes in production, processing, and/or clearance of brain amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) concentrations, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) mediates the first step in the processing of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) to Aβ peptides, with the soluble N terminal fragment of AβPP (sAβPPβ) as a direct product, and BACE1 inhibition is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention to reduce the production of Aβ. Here, we report the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of AZD3293, a potent, highly permeable, orally active, blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrating, BACE1 inhibitor with unique slow off-rate kinetics. The in vitro potency of AZD3293 was demonstrated in several cellular models, including primary cortical neurons. In vivo in mice, guinea pigs, and dogs, AZD3293 displayed significant dose- and time-dependent reductions in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain concentrations of Aβ40, Aβ42, and sAβPPβ. The in vitro potency of AZD3293 in mouse and guinea pig primary cortical neuronal cells was correlated to the in vivo potency expressed as free AZD3293 concentrations in mouse and guinea pig brains. In mice and dogs, the slow off-rate from BACE1 may have translated into a prolongation of the observed effect beyond the turnover rate of Aβ. The preclinical data strongly support the clinical development of AZD3293, and patients with AD are currently being recruited into a combined Phase 2/3 study to test the disease-modifying properties of AZD3293.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Eketjäll
- AstraZeneca Translational Sciences Centre, Science for Life Laboratory, Personal Healthcare and Biomarkers, AstraZeneca, Solna, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Juliette Janson
- AstraZeneca Translational Sciences Centre, Science for Life Laboratory, Personal Healthcare and Biomarkers, AstraZeneca, Solna, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Anna Bogstedt
- AstraZeneca Translational Sciences Centre, Science for Life Laboratory, Personal Healthcare and Biomarkers, AstraZeneca, Solna, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Jeppsson
- CNS and Pain iMed, AstraZeneca, Södertälje, Sweden.,Operations Global Quality, AstraZeneca, Södertälje, Sweden
| | | | | | - Alan R Kugler
- Neuroscience iMed, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Gvido Cebers
- Neuroscience iMed, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, MA, USA
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3
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Alzheimer's disease: presenilin 2-sparing γ-secretase inhibition is a tolerable Aβ peptide-lowering strategy. J Neurosci 2013. [PMID: 23197721 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1451-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase inhibition represents a major therapeutic strategy for lowering amyloid β (Aβ) peptide production in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Progress toward clinical use of γ-secretase inhibitors has, however, been hampered due to mechanism-based adverse events, primarily related to impairment of Notch signaling. The γ-secretase inhibitor MRK-560 represents an exception as it is largely tolerable in vivo despite displaying only a small selectivity between Aβ production and Notch signaling in vitro. In exploring the molecular basis for the observed tolerability, we show that MRK-560 displays a strong preference for the presenilin 1 (PS1) over PS2 subclass of γ-secretases and is tolerable in wild-type mice but causes dose-dependent Notch-related side effect in PS2-deficient mice at drug exposure levels resulting in a substantial decrease in brain Aβ levels. This demonstrates that PS2 plays an important role in mediating essential Notch signaling in several peripheral organs during pharmacological inhibition of PS1 and provide preclinical in vivo proof of concept for PS2-sparing inhibition as a novel, tolerable and efficacious γ-secretase targeting strategy for AD.
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4
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Borgegard T, Juréus A, Olsson F, Rosqvist S, Sabirsh A, Rotticci D, Paulsen K, Klintenberg R, Yan H, Waldman M, Stromberg K, Nord J, Johansson J, Regner A, Parpal S, Malinowsky D, Radesater AC, Li T, Singh R, Eriksson H, Lundkvist J. First and second generation γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) modulate amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide production through different mechanisms. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:11810-9. [PMID: 22334705 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.305227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase-mediated cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) results in the production of Alzheimer disease-related amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. The Aβ42 peptide in particular plays a pivotal role in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis and represents a major drug target. Several γ-secretase modulators (GSMs), such as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (R)-flurbiprofen and sulindac sulfide, have been suggested to modulate the Alzheimer-related Aβ production by targeting the APP. Here, we describe novel GSMs that are selective for Aβ modulation and do not impair processing of Notch, EphB2, or EphA4. The GSMs modulate Aβ both in cell and cell-free systems as well as lower amyloidogenic Aβ42 levels in the mouse brain. Both radioligand binding and cellular cross-competition experiments reveal a competitive relationship between the AstraZeneca (AZ) GSMs and the established second generation GSM, E2012, but a noncompetitive interaction between AZ GSMs and the first generation GSMs (R)-flurbiprofen and sulindac sulfide. The binding of a (3)H-labeled AZ GSM analog does not co-localize with APP but overlaps anatomically with a γ-secretase targeting inhibitor in rodent brains. Combined, these data provide compelling evidence of a growing class of in vivo active GSMs, which are selective for Aβ modulation and have a different mechanism of action compared with the original class of GSMs described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Borgegard
- Department of Neuroscience, AstraZeneca, CNS/PAIN iMED, S-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden
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5
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Wanngren J, Frånberg J, Svensson AI, Laudon H, Olsson F, Winblad B, Liu F, Näslund J, Lundkvist J, Karlström H. The large hydrophilic loop of presenilin 1 is important for regulating gamma-secretase complex assembly and dictating the amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) Profile without affecting Notch processing. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:8527-36. [PMID: 20106965 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.055590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma-secretase is an enzyme complex that mediates both Notch signaling and beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, resulting in the generation of Notch intracellular domain, APP intracellular domain, and the amyloid beta peptide (Abeta), the latter playing a central role in Alzheimer disease (AD). By a hitherto undefined mechanism, the activity of gamma-secretase gives rise to Abeta peptides of different lengths, where Abeta42 is considered to play a particular role in AD. In this study we have examined the role of the large hydrophilic loop (amino acids 320-374, encoded by exon 10) of presenilin 1 (PS1), the catalytic subunit of gamma-secretase, for gamma-secretase complex formation and activity on Notch and APP processing. Deletion of exon 10 resulted in impaired PS1 endoproteolysis, gamma-secretase complex formation, and had a differential effect on Abeta-peptide production. Although the production of Abeta38, Abeta39, and Abeta40 was severely impaired, the effect on Abeta42 was affected to a lesser extent, implying that the production of the AD-related Abeta42 peptide is separate from the production of the Abeta38, Abeta39, and Abeta40 peptides. Interestingly, formation of the intracellular domains of both APP and Notch was intact, implying a differential cleavage activity between the epsilon/S3 and gamma sites. The most C-terminal amino acids of the hydrophilic loop were important for regulating APP processing. In summary, the large hydrophilic loop of PS1 appears to differentially regulate the relative production of different Abeta peptides without affecting Notch processing, two parameters of significance when considering gamma-secretase as a target for pharmaceutical intervention in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Wanngren
- Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society, KI-Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
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6
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Marks N, Berg MJ. BACE and gamma-secretase characterization and their sorting as therapeutic targets to reduce amyloidogenesis. Neurochem Res 2009; 35:181-210. [PMID: 19760173 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-009-0054-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2009] [Accepted: 08/21/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Secretases are named for enzymes processing amyloid precursor protein (APP), a prototypic type-1 membrane protein. This led directly to discovery of novel Aspartyl proteases (beta-secretases or BACE), a tetramer complex gamma-secretase (gamma-SC) containing presenilins, nicastrin, aph-1 and pen-2, and a new role for metalloprotease(s) of the ADAM family as a alpha-secretases. Recent advances in defining pathways that mediate endosomal-lysosomal-autophagic-exosomal trafficking now provide targets for new drugs to attenuate abnormal production of fibril forming products characteristic of AD. A key to success includes not only characterization of relevant secretases but mechanisms for sorting and transport of key metabolites to abnormal vesicles or sites for assembly of fibrils. New developments we highlight include an important role for an 'early recycling endosome' coated in retromer complex containing lipoprotein receptor LRP-II (SorLA) for switching APP to a non-amyloidogenic pathway for alpha-secretases processing, or to shuttle APP to a 'late endosome compartment' to form Abeta or AICD. LRP11 (SorLA) is of particular importance since it decreases in sporadic AD whose etiology otherwise is unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neville Marks
- Center for Neurochemistry, Nathan S Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
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Brunello L, Zampese E, Florean C, Pozzan T, Pizzo P, Fasolato C. Presenilin-2 dampens intracellular Ca2+ stores by increasing Ca2+ leakage and reducing Ca2+ uptake. J Cell Mol Med 2009; 13:3358-69. [PMID: 19382908 PMCID: PMC4516491 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009.00755.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that familial Alzheimer’s disease mutants of presenilin-2 (PS2) and, to a lesser extent, of presenilin-1 (PS1) lower the Ca2+ concentration of intracellular stores. We here examined the mechanism by which wild-type and mutant PS2 affect store Ca2+ handling. By using HeLa, SH-SY5Y and MEFs as model cells, and recombinant aequorins as Ca2+ probes, we show evidence that transient expression of either wild-type or mutant PS2 increases the passive Ca2+ leakage: both ryanodine- and IP3-receptors contribute to Ca2+ exit out of the ER, whereas the ribosome translocon complex is not involved. In SH-SY5Y cells and MEFs, wild-type and mutant PS2 potently reduce the uptake of Ca2+ inside the stores, an effect that can be counteracted by over-expression of SERCA-2B. On this line, in wild-type MEFs, lowering the endogenous level of PS2 by RNA interference, increases the Ca2+-loading capability of intracellular stores. Furthermore, we show that in PS double knockout MEFs, reduction of Ca2+ stores is mimicked by the expression of PS2-D366A, a loss-of-function mutant, uncleaved because also devoid of presenilinase activity but not by co-expression of the two catalytic active fragments of PS2. In summary, both physiological and increased levels of wild-type and mutant PS2 reduce the Ca2+ uptake by intracellular stores. To exert this newly described function, PS2 needs to be in its full-length form, even if it can subsequently be cleaved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Brunello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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8
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Carter DB, Dunn E, Pauley AM, McKinley DD, Fleck TJ, Ellerbrook BR, Stratman NC, Zhou X, Himes CS, Nye JS, Tomasselli A, Yan R. Changes in gamma-secretase activity and specificity caused by the introduction of consensus aspartyl protease active motif in Presenilin 1. Mol Neurodegener 2008; 3:6. [PMID: 18474109 PMCID: PMC2405781 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-3-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2008] [Accepted: 05/12/2008] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Presenilin (PS1 or PS2) is an essential component of the active γ-secretase complex that liberates the Aβ peptides from amyloid precursor protein (APP). PS1 is regarded as an atypical aspartyl protease harboring two essential aspartic acids in the context of the sequence D257LV and D385FI, respectively, rather than the typical DTG...DTG catalytic motif of classical aspartyl proteases. In the present studies, we introduced the sequence DTG in PS1 at and around the catalytic D257 and D385 residues to generate three PS1 mutants: D257TG, D385TG, and the double-mutant D257TG/D385TG. The effects of these changes on the γ-secretase activity in the presence or absence of γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators were investigated. The results showed that PS1 mutants having D385TG robustly enhanced Aβ42 production compared to the wild type (wt), and were more sensitive than wt to inhibition by a classical aspartyl protease transition state mimic, and fenchylamine, a sulfonamide derivative. Unlike wt PS1 and some of its clinical mutants, all three PS1 artificial mutants decreased cleavage of Notch S3-site, suggesting that these artificial mutations may trigger conformational changes at the substrate docking and catalytic site that cause alteration of substrate specificity and inhibition pattern. Consistent with this notion, we have found that NSAID enzymatic inhibitors of COX, known modulators of the γ-secretase activity, cause PS1 mutants containing D385TG to produce higher levels of both Aβ38 and Aβ42, but to reduce levels of Aβ39, showing a pattern of Aβ formation different from that observed with wild type PS1 and its clinical mutants. This study provides an important structural clue for the rational design of drugs to inhibit processing of APP at the γ-site without interfering with Notch processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald B Carter
- Global Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, USA.
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9
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Marks N, Berg MJ. Neurosecretases provide strategies to treat sporadic and familial Alzheimer disorders. Neurochem Int 2008; 52:184-215. [PMID: 17719698 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2007.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2007] [Revised: 06/05/2007] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent discoveries on neurosecretases and their trafficking to release fibril-forming neuropeptides or other products, are of interest to pathology, cell signaling and drug discovery. Nomenclature arose from the use of amyloid precursor protein (APP) as a prototypic type-1 substrate leading to the isolation of beta-secretase (BACE), multimeric complexes (gamma-secretase, gamma-SC) for intramembranal cleavage, and attributing a new function to well-characterized metalloproteases of the ADAM family (alpha-secretase) for normal APP turnover. While purified alpha/beta-secretases facilitate drug discovery, gamma-SC presents greater challenges for characterization and mechanisms of catalysis. The review comments on links between mutation or polymorphisms in relation to enzyme mechanisms and disease. The association between lipoprotein receptor LRP11 variants and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD) offers scope to integrate components of pre- and post-Golgi membranes, or brain clathrin-coated vesicles within pathways for trafficking as targets for intervention. The presence of APP and metabolites in brain clathrin-coated vesicles as significant cargo with lipoproteins and adaptors focuses attention as targets for therapeutic intervention. This overview emphasizes the importance to develop new therapies targeting neurosecretases to treat a major neurological disorder that has vast economic and social implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neville Marks
- Center for Neurochemistry, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, United States.
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10
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Verdile G, Gandy SE, Martins RN. The role of presenilin and its interacting proteins in the biogenesis of Alzheimer's beta amyloid. Neurochem Res 2007; 32:609-23. [PMID: 16944319 PMCID: PMC1832151 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-006-9131-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2006] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The biogenesis and accumulation of the beta amyloid protein (Abeta) is a key event in the cascade of oxidative and inflammatory processes that characterises Alzheimer's disease. The presenilins and its interacting proteins play a pivotal role in the generation of Abeta from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). In particular, three proteins (nicastrin, aph-1 and pen-2) interact with presenilins to form a large multi-subunit enzymatic complex (gamma-secretase) that cleaves APP to generate Abeta. Reconstitution studies in yeast and insect cells have provided strong evidence that these four proteins are the major components of the gamma-secretase enzyme. Current research is directed at elucidating the roles that each of these protein play in the function of this enzyme. In addition, a number of presenilin interacting proteins that are not components of gamma-secretase play important roles in modulating Abeta production. This review will discuss the components of the gamma-secretase complex and the role of presenilin interacting proteins on gamma-secretase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Verdile
- Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s disease Research and Care, and the Sir James McCusker Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, 6027 WA Australia
- Hollywood Private Hospital, Nedlands, WA Australia
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA Australia
| | - Samuel E Gandy
- Farber Institute for Neurosciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Ralph N. Martins
- Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s disease Research and Care, and the Sir James McCusker Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, 6027 WA Australia
- Hollywood Private Hospital, Nedlands, WA Australia
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA Australia
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11
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Vetrivel KS, Zhang YW, Xu H, Thinakaran G. Pathological and physiological functions of presenilins. Mol Neurodegener 2006; 1:4. [PMID: 16930451 PMCID: PMC1513131 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-1-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2006] [Accepted: 06/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes account for the majority of cases of early-onset familial Alzheimer disease. Since the first prediction of a genetic link between PSEN1 and PSEN2 with Alzheimer's disease, many research groups from both academia and pharmaceutical industry have sought to unravel how pathogenic mutations in PSEN cause presenile dementia. PSEN genes encode polytopic membrane proteins termed presenilins (PS1 and PS2), which function as the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, an intramembrane protease that has a wide spectrum of type I membrane protein substrates. Sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein by BACE and γ-secretase releases highly fibrillogenic β-amyloid peptides, which accumulate in the brains of aged individuals and patients with Alzheimer's disease. Familial Alzheimer's disease-associated presenilin variants are thought to exert their pathogenic function by selectively elevating the levels of highly amyloidogenic Aβ42 peptides. In addition to Alzheimer's disease, several recent studies have linked PSEN1 to familiar frontotemporal dementia. Here, we review the biology of PS1, its role in γ-secretase activity, and discuss recent developments in the cell biology of PS1 with respect to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kulandaivelu S Vetrivel
- Department of Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yun-wu Zhang
- Center for Neuroscience and Aging, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, LaJolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Huaxi Xu
- Center for Neuroscience and Aging, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, LaJolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Gopal Thinakaran
- Department of Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Dillen K, Annaert W. A Two Decade Contribution of Molecular Cell Biology to the Centennial of Alzheimer's Disease: Are We Progressing Toward Therapy? INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CYTOLOGY 2006; 254:215-300. [PMID: 17148000 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7696(06)54005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), described for the first time 100 years ago, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by two neuropathological hallmarks: neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau and senile plaques. These lesions are likely initiated by an imbalance between production and clearance of amyloid beta, leading to increased oligomerization of these peptides, formation of amyloid plaques in the brain of the patient, and final dementia. Amyloid beta is generated from amyloid precursor protein (APP) by subsequent beta- and gamma-secretase cleavage, the latter being a multiprotein complex consisting of presenilin-1 or -2, nicastrin, APH-1, and PEN-2. Alternatively, APP can be cleaved by alpha- and gamma-secretase, precluding the production of Abeta. In this review, we discuss the major breakthroughs during the past two decades of molecular cell biology and the current genetic and cell biological state of the art on APP proteolysis, including structure-function relationships and subcellular localization. Finally, potential directions for cell biological research toward the development of AD therapies are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katleen Dillen
- Laboratory for Membrane Trafficking, Center for Human Genetics/VIB1104 & KULeuven, Gasthuisberg O&N1, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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