1
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Chen SY, Feilen LP, Chávez-Gutiérrez L, Steiner H, Zacharias M. Enzyme-substrate hybrid β-sheet controls geometry and water access to the γ-secretase active site. Commun Biol 2023; 6:670. [PMID: 37355752 PMCID: PMC10290658 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05039-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase is an aspartyl intramembrane protease that cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) involved in Alzheimer's disease pathology and other transmembrane proteins. Substrate-bound structures reveal a stable hybrid β-sheet immediately following the substrate scissile bond consisting of β1 and β2 from the enzyme and β3 from the substrate. Molecular dynamics simulations and enhanced sampling simulations demonstrate that the hybrid β-sheet stability is strongly correlated with the formation of a stable cleavage-compatible active geometry and it also controls water access to the active site. The hybrid β-sheet is only stable for substrates with 3 or more C-terminal residues beyond the scissile bond. The simulation model allowed us to predict the effect of Pro and Phe mutations that weaken the formation of the hybrid β-sheet which were confirmed by experimental testing. Our study provides a direct explanation why γ-secretase preferentially cleaves APP in steps of 3 residues and how the hybrid β-sheet facilitates γ-secretase proteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yu Chen
- Center of Functional Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Lukas P Feilen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Lucía Chávez-Gutiérrez
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Harald Steiner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Division of Metabolic Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Zacharias
- Center of Functional Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
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2
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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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3
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Lin JZ, Duan MR, Lin N, Zhao WJ. The emerging role of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan family in neurodegenerative diseases. Rev Neurosci 2021; 32:737-750. [PMID: 33655733 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a kind of linear polysaccharide that is covalently linked to proteins to form proteoglycans. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) consist of a core protein, with one or more CS chains covalently attached. CSPGs are precisely regulated and they exert a variety of physiological functions by binding to adhesion molecules and growth factors. Widely distributed in the nervous system in human body, CSPGs contribute to the major component of extracellular matrix (ECM), where they play an important role in the development and maturation of the nervous system, as well as in the pathophysiological response to damage to the central nervous system (CNS). While there are more than 30 types of CSPGs, this review covers the roles of the most important ones, including versican, aggrecan, neurocan and NG2 in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. The updated reports of the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are involving CSPGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Zhe Lin
- Neurosurgical Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Ming-Rui Duan
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Nuan Lin
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei-Jiang Zhao
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
- Cell Biology Department, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
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4
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Liu L, Lauro BM, Wolfe MS, Selkoe DJ. Hydrophilic loop 1 of Presenilin-1 and the APP GxxxG transmembrane motif regulate γ-secretase function in generating Alzheimer-causing Aβ peptides. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100393. [PMID: 33571524 PMCID: PMC7961089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase is responsible for the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) into amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, which are centrally implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The biochemical mechanism of how processing by γ-secretase is regulated, especially as regards the interaction between enzyme and substrate, remains largely unknown. Here, mutagenesis reveals that the hydrophilic loop-1 (HL-1) of presenilin-1 (PS1) is critical for both γ-secretase step-wise cleavages (processivity) and its allosteric modulation by heterocyclic γ-modulatory compounds. Systematic mutagenesis of HL-1, including all of its familial AD mutations and additional engineered variants, and quantification of the resultant Aβ products show that HL-1 is necessary for proper sequential γ-secretase processivity. We identify Y106, L113, and Y115 in HL-1 as key targets for heterocyclic γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) to stimulate processing of pathogenic Aβ peptides. Further, we confirm that the GxxxG domain in the APP transmembrane region functions as a critical substrate motif for γ-secretase processivity: a G29A substitution in APP-C99 mimics the beneficial effects of GSMs. Together, these findings provide a molecular basis for the structural regulation of γ-processivity by enzyme and substrate, facilitating the rational design of new GSMs that lower AD-initiating amyloidogenic Aβ peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bianca M Lauro
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael S Wolfe
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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A computer-simulated mechanism of familial Alzheimer’s disease: Mutations enhance thermal dynamics and favor looser substrate-binding to γ-secretase. J Struct Biol 2020; 212:107648. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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6
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Substrate recruitment by γ-secretase. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 105:54-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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7
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Cai T, Tomita T. Structure-activity relationship of presenilin in γ-secretase-mediated intramembrane cleavage. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 105:102-109. [PMID: 32171519 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Genetic research on familial cases of Alzheimer disease have identified presenilin (PS) as an important membrane protein in the pathomechanism of this disease. PS is the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, which is responsible for the generation of amyloid-β peptide deposited in the brains of Alzheimer disease patients. γ-Secretase is an atypical protease composed of four membrane proteins (i.e., presenilin, nicastrin, anterior pharynx defective-1 (Aph-1), and presenilin enhancer-2 (Pen-2)) and mediates intramembrane proteolysis. Numerous investigations have been conducted toward understanding the structural features of γ-secretase components as well as the cleavage mechanism of γ-secretase. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the structure and activity relationship of the γ-secretase complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Cai
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Taisuke Tomita
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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8
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Trambauer J, Rodríguez Sarmiento RM, Fukumori A, Feederle R, Baumann K, Steiner H. Aβ43-producing PS1 FAD mutants cause altered substrate interactions and respond to γ-secretase modulation. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e47996. [PMID: 31762188 PMCID: PMC6945062 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201947996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal generation of neurotoxic amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) 42/43 species due to mutations in the catalytic presenilin 1 (PS1) subunit of γ-secretase is the major cause of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Deeper mechanistic insight on the generation of Aβ43 is still lacking, and it is unclear whether γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) can reduce the levels of this Aβ species. By comparing several types of Aβ43-generating FAD mutants, we observe that very high levels of Aβ43 are often produced when presenilin function is severely impaired. Altered interactions of C99, the precursor of Aβ, are found for all mutants and are independent of their particular effect on Aβ production. Furthermore, unlike previously described GSMs, the novel compound RO7019009 can effectively lower Aβ43 production of all mutants. Finally, substrate-binding competition experiments suggest that RO7019009 acts mechanistically after initial C99 binding. We conclude that altered C99 interactions are a common feature of diverse types of PS1 FAD mutants and that also patients with Aβ43-generating FAD mutations could in principle be treated by GSMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Trambauer
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Metabolic BiochemistryLudwig‐Maximilians‐UniversityMunichGermany
| | | | - Akio Fukumori
- Department of Aging NeurobiologyNational Center for Geriatrics and GerontologyObuJapan
- Department of Mental Health PromotionOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineToyonakaJapan
| | - Regina Feederle
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Helmholtz Center MunichGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthNeuherbergGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MunichGermany
| | - Karlheinz Baumann
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann‐La Roche Ltd.BaselSwitzerland
| | - Harald Steiner
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Metabolic BiochemistryLudwig‐Maximilians‐UniversityMunichGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MunichGermany
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9
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Hitzenberger M, Zacharias M. Uncovering the Binding Mode of γ -Secretase Inhibitors. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3398-3403. [PMID: 31244051 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of how transition state inhibitors bind to γ-secretase is of major importance for the design of new Alzheimer's disease therapies. On the basis of the known structure of γ-secretase in complex with a fragment of the amyloid precursor protein, we generated a structural model of γ-secretase in complex with the effective L-685,458 transition state inhibitor. The predicted binding mode is in excellent agreement with experimental data, mimicking all enzyme-substrate interactions at the active site and forming the relevant transition state geometry with the active site aspartate residues. The model also indicates the possible location and nature of the amino acid residues forming the proposed binding pockets S1', S2', and S3' near the active site that are occupied by chemical groups of the inhibitor. In addition, we found that the stability of the complex is very likely sensitive to the pH value. Comparative simulations on the binding of L-685,458 and the epimer L682,679 allowed us to explain the strongly reduced affinity of the epimer for γ-secretase. The structural model could form a valuable basis for the design of new or modified γ-secretase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Hitzenberger
- Physics Department T38, Technical University of Munich, James-Frank-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Martin Zacharias
- Physics Department T38, Technical University of Munich, James-Frank-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
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10
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Abstract
γ-Secretase is a membrane-embedded protease complex, with presenilin as the catalytic component containing two transmembrane aspartates in the active site. With more than 90 known substrates, the γ-secretase complex is considered "the proteasome of the membrane", with central roles in biology and medicine. The protease carries out hydrolysis within the lipid bilayer to cleave the transmembrane domain of the substrate multiple times before releasing secreted products. For many years, elucidation of γ-secretase structure and function largely relied on small-molecule probes and mutagenesis. Recently, however, advances in cryo-electron microscopy have led to the first detailed structures of the protease complex. Two new reports of structures of γ-secretase bound to membrane protein substrates provide great insight into the nature of substrate recognition and how Alzheimer's disease-causing mutations in presenilin might alter substrate binding and processing. These new structures offer a powerful platform for elucidating enzyme mechanisms, deciphering effects of disease-causing mutations, and advancing Alzheimer's disease drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Wolfe
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , University of Kansas , Lawrence , Kansas 66045 , United States
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11
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Hitzenberger M, Zacharias M. Structural Modeling of γ-Secretase Aβ n Complex Formation and Substrate Processing. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1826-1840. [PMID: 30638370 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The intramembrane aspartyl protease γ-secretase (GSEC) cleaves single-span transmembrane helices including the C-terminal fragment of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). This substrate is initially cleaved at the ϵ-site followed by successive processing (trimming) events mostly in steps of three amino acids. GSEC is responsible for the formation of N-terminal APP amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides of different length (e.g., Aβ42) that can form aggregates involved in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. The molecular mechanism of GSEC-APP substrate recognition is key for understanding how different peptide products are formed and could help in designing APP-selective modulators. Based on the known structure of apo GSEC and the APP-C99 fragment we have generated putative structural models of the initial binding in three different possible modes using extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The binding mode with the substrate helix located in a cleft between the transmembrane helices 2 and 3 of the presenilin subunit was identified as a most likely binding mode. Based on this arrangement, the processing steps were investigated using restraint MD simulations to pull the scissile bond (for each processing step) into a transition like (cleavable) state. This allowed us to analyze in detail the motions and energetic contributions of participating residues. The structural model agrees qualitatively well with the influence of many mutations in GSEC and C99. It also explains the effects of inhibitors, cross-linking, as well as spectroscopic data on GSEC substrate binding and can serve as working model for the future planning of structural and biochemical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Hitzenberger
- Physics Department T38, Technical University of Munich, James-Frank-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - M. Zacharias
- Physics Department T38, Technical University of Munich, James-Frank-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
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12
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Steiner H, Fukumori A, Tagami S, Okochi M. Making the final cut: pathogenic amyloid-β peptide generation by γ-secretase. Cell Stress 2018; 2:292-310. [PMID: 31225454 PMCID: PMC6551803 DOI: 10.15698/cst2018.11.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease of the elderly population. Genetic evidence strongly suggests that aberrant generation and/or clearance of the neurotoxic amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is triggering the disease. Aβ is generated from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the sequential cleavages of β- and γ-secretase. The latter cleavage by γ-secretase, a unique and fascinating four-component protease complex, occurs in the APP transmembrane domain thereby releasing Aβ species of 37-43 amino acids in length including the longer, highly pathogenic peptides Aβ42 and Aβ43. The lack of a precise understanding of Aβ generation as well as of the functions of other γ-secretase substrates has been one factor underlying the disappointing failure of γ-secretase inhibitors in clinical trials, but on the other side also been a major driving force for structural and in depth mechanistic studies on this key AD drug target in the past few years. Here we review recent breakthroughs in our understanding of how the γ-secretase complex recognizes substrates, of how it binds and processes β-secretase cleaved APP into different Aβ species, as well as the progress made on a question of outstanding interest, namely how clinical AD mutations in the catalytic subunit presenilin and the γ-secretase cleavage region of APP lead to relative increases of Aβ42/43. Finally, we discuss how the knowledge emerging from these studies could be used to therapeutically target this enzyme in a safe way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Steiner
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Akio Fukumori
- Department of Aging Neurobiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu & Department of Mental Health Promotion, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Shinji Tagami
- Neuropsychiatry, Department of Integrated Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Masayasu Okochi
- Neuropsychiatry, Department of Integrated Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
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13
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Langosch D, Steiner H. Substrate processing in intramembrane proteolysis by γ-secretase - the role of protein dynamics. Biol Chem 2017; 398:441-453. [PMID: 27845877 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2016-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Intramembrane proteases comprise a number of different membrane proteins with different types of catalytic sites. Their common denominator is cleavage within the plane of the membrane, which usually results in peptide bond scission within the transmembrane helices of their substrates. Despite recent progress in the determination of high-resolution structures, as illustrated here for the γ-secretase complex and its substrate C99, it is still unknown how these enzymes function and how they distinguish between substrates and non-substrates. In principle, substrate/non-substrate discrimination could occur at the level of substrate binding and/or cleavage. Focusing on the γ-secretase/C99 pair, we will discuss recent observations suggesting that global motions within a substrate transmembrane helix may be much more important for defining a substrate than local unraveling at cleavage sites.
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14
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Kretner B, Trambauer J, Fukumori A, Mielke J, Kuhn PH, Kremmer E, Giese A, Lichtenthaler SF, Haass C, Arzberger T, Steiner H. Generation and deposition of Aβ43 by the virtually inactive presenilin-1 L435F mutant contradicts the presenilin loss-of-function hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. EMBO Mol Med 2016; 8:458-65. [PMID: 26988102 PMCID: PMC5119496 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201505952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As stated by the prevailing amyloid cascade hypothesis, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by the aggregation and cerebral deposition of long amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ) species, which are released from a C‐terminal amyloid precursor protein fragment by γ‐secretase. Mutations in its catalytic subunit presenilin‐1 (PS1) increase the Aβ42 to Aβ40 ratio and are the major cause of familial AD (FAD). An opposing hypothesis states that loss of essential presenilin functions underlies the disease. A major argument for this hypothesis is the observation that the nearly inactive PS1 L435F mutant, paradoxically, causes FAD. We now show that the very little Aβ generated by PS1 L435F consists primarily of Aβ43, a highly amyloidogenic species which was overlooked in previous studies of this mutant. We further demonstrate that the generation of Aβ43 is not due to a trans‐dominant effect of this mutant on WT presenilin. Furthermore, we found Aβ43‐containing plaques in brains of patients with this mutation. The aberrant generation of Aβ43 by this particular mutant provides a direct objection against the presenilin hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Kretner
- Biomedical Center, Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Trambauer
- Biomedical Center, Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Akio Fukumori
- DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Janina Mielke
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peer-Hendrik Kuhn
- DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany Neuroproteomics, Klinikum rechts der Isar and Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kremmer
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany Institute of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Armin Giese
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan F Lichtenthaler
- DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany Neuroproteomics, Klinikum rechts der Isar and Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Haass
- Biomedical Center, Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Arzberger
- DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Harald Steiner
- Biomedical Center, Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
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15
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The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Molecular Chaperone Deregulation in Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:905-931. [PMID: 25561438 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-9063-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
One of the shared hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of misfolded proteins. Therefore, it is suspected that normal proteostasis is crucial for neuronal survival in the brain and that the malfunction of this mechanism may be the underlying cause of neurodegenerative diseases. The accumulation of amyloid plaques (APs) composed of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) aggregates and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of misfolded Tau proteins are the defining pathological markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The accumulation of these proteins indicates a faulty protein quality control in the AD brain. An impaired ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) could lead to negative consequences for protein regulation, including loss of function. Another pivotal mechanism for the prevention of misfolded protein accumulation is the utilization of molecular chaperones. Molecular chaperones, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs) and FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs), are highly involved in protein regulation to ensure proper folding and normal function. In this review, we elaborate on the molecular basis of AD pathophysiology using recent data, with a particular focus on the role of the UPS and molecular chaperones as the defensive mechanism against misfolded proteins that have prion-like properties. In addition, we propose a rational therapy approach based on this mechanism.
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16
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Chávez-Gutiérrez L. Dissecting γ-secretase function. J Neurochem 2013; 125:1-3. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Chávez-Gutiérrez
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease; VIB; KULeuven; Center for Human Genetics; Leuven Belgium
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