scholarly journals Presenilin-1 affects trafficking and processing of βAPP and is targeted in a complex with nicastrin to the plasma membrane

2002 ◽  
Vol 158 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Kaether ◽  
Sven Lammich ◽  
Dieter Edbauer ◽  
Michaela Ertl ◽  
Jens Rietdorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Secretase Activity ◽  
Β Amyloid ◽  
Aβ Production

Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is generated by the consecutive cleavages of β- and γ-secretase. The intramembraneous γ-secretase cleavage critically depends on the activity of presenilins (PS1 and PS2). Although there is evidence that PSs are aspartyl proteases with γ-secretase activity, it remains controversial whether their subcellular localization overlaps with the cellular sites of Aβ production. We now demonstrate that biologically active GFP-tagged PS1 as well as endogenous PS1 are targeted to the plasma membrane (PM) of living cells. On the way to the PM, PS1 binds to nicastrin (Nct), an essential component of the γ-secretase complex. This complex is targeted through the secretory pathway where PS1-bound Nct becomes endoglycosidase H resistant. Moreover, surface-biotinylated Nct can be coimmunoprecipitated with PS1 antibodies, demonstrating that this complex is located to cellular sites with γ-secretase activity. Inactivating PS1 or PS2 function by mutagenesis of one of the critical aspartate residues or by γ-secretase inhibitors results in delayed reinternalization of the β-amyloid precursor protein and its accumulation at the cell surface. Our data suggest that PS is targeted as a biologically active complex with Nct through the secretory pathway to the cell surface and suggest a dual function of PS in γ-secretase processing and in trafficking.

Selective Secretase Targeting for Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Alvaro Miranda ◽  
Enrique Montiel ◽  
Henning Ulrich ◽  
Cristian Paz
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Plaques ◽  
Neuroprotective Activity ◽  
Amyloid Β Protein ◽  
Secretase Activity ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Aβ Production ◽  
Bace 1

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with marked atrophy of the cerebral cortex and accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid plaques are formed by oligomers of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain, with a length of 42 and 40 amino acids. α-secretase cleaves amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) producing the membrane-bound fragment CTFα and the soluble fragment sAβPPα with neuroprotective activity; β-secretase produces membrane-bound fragment CTFβ and a soluble fragment sAβPPβ. After α-secretase cleavage of AβPP, γ-secretase cleaves CTFα to produce the cytoplasmic fragment AICD and P3 in the non-amyloidogenic pathway. CTFβ is cleaved by γ-secretase producing AICD as well as Aβ in amyloidogenic pathways. In the last years, the study of natural products and synthetic compounds, such as α-secretase activity enhancers, β-secretase inhibitors (BACE-1), and γ-secretase activity modulators, have been the focus of pharmaceuticals and researchers. Drugs were improved regarding solubility, blood-brain barrier penetration, selectivity, and potency decreasing Aβ42. In this regard, BACE-1 inhibitors, such as Atabecestat, NB-360, Umibecestat, PF-06751979, Verubecestat, LY2886721, Lanabecestat, LY2811376, and Elenbecestat, were submitted to phase I-III clinical trials. However, inhibition of Aβ production did not recover cognitive functions or reverse the disease. Novel strategies are being developed, aiming at a partial reduction of Aβ production, such as the development of γ-secretase modulators or α-secretase enhancers. Such therapeutic tools shall focus on slowing down or minimizing the progression of neuronal damage. Here, we summarize structures and the activities of the latest compounds designed for AD treatment, with remarkable in vitro, in vivo, and clinical phase activities.

Cholesterol and Alzheimer's disease

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wolozin
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Hmg Coa Reductase ◽  
Production Studies ◽  
Amino Acid Peptide ◽  
Reductase Inhibitors ◽  
Coa Reductase ◽  
Aβ Production

Accumulation of a 40–42-amino acid peptide, termed amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and identifying medicines that inhibit Aβ could help patients with AD. Recent evidence suggests that a class of medicines that lower cholesterol by blocking the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), termed statins, can inhibit Aβ production. Increasing evidence suggests that the enzymes that generate Aβ function best in a high-cholesterol environment, which might explain why reducing cholesterol would inhibit Aβ production. Studies using both neurons and peripheral cells show that reducing cellular cholesterol levels, by stripping off the cholesterol with methyl-β-cyclodextrin or by treating the cells with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, decreases Aβ production. Studies performed on animal models and on humans concur with these results. In humans, lovastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been shown to reduce Aβ levels in blood of patients by up to 40%. The putative role of Aβ in AD raises the possibility that treating patients with statins might lower Aβ, and thereby either delay the occurrence of AD or retard the progression of AD. Two large retrospective studies support this hypothesis. Both studies suggest that patients taking statins had an approx. 70% lower risk of developing AD. Since statins are widely used by doctors, their ability to reduce Aβ offers a putative therapeutic strategy for treating AD by using medicines that have already been proved safe to use in humans.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Glycosphingolipid Biosynthesis Reduces Secretion of the β-Amyloid Precursor Protein and Amyloid β-Peptide

2005 ◽  
Vol 280 (30) ◽  
pp. 28110-28117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Y. Tamboli ◽  
Kai Prager ◽  
Esther Barth ◽  
Michael Heneka ◽  
Konrad Sandhoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Precursor Protein ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Precursor Protein ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Β Amyloid ◽  
Glycosphingolipid Biosynthesis

Synaptic Silencing and Plasma Membrane Dyshomeostasis Induced by Amyloid-β Peptide are Prevented by Aristotelia chilensis Enriched Extract

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 879-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Fuentealba ◽  
Andrea Dibarrart ◽  
Francisco Saez-Orellana ◽  
María Cecilia Fuentes-Fuentes ◽  
Carlos N. Oyanedel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Aristotelia Chilensis

scholarly journals Identification of Novel γ-Secretase-associated Proteins in Detergent-resistant Membranes from Brain

2012 ◽  
Vol 287 (15) ◽  
pp. 11991-12005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Yeun Hur ◽  
Yasuhiro Teranishi ◽  
Takahiro Kihara ◽  
Natsuko Goto Yamamoto ◽  
Mitsuhiro Inoue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Affinity Purification ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Anion Channel ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽  
App Processing ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Detergent Resistant Membranes ◽  
Aβ Production

In Alzheimer disease, oligomeric amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) species lead to synapse loss and neuronal death. γ-Secretase, the transmembrane protease complex that mediates the final catalytic step that liberates Aβ from its precursor protein (APP), has a multitude of substrates, and therapeutics aimed at reducing Aβ production should ideally be specific for APP cleavage. It has been shown that APP can be processed in lipid rafts, and γ-secretase-associated proteins can affect Aβ production. Here, we use a biotinylated inhibitor for affinity purification of γ-secretase and associated proteins and mass spectrometry for identification of the purified proteins, and we identify novel γ-secretase-associated proteins in detergent-resistant membranes from brain. Furthermore, we show by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of gene expression that a subset of the γ-secretase-associated proteins, in particular voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) and contactin-associated protein 1 (CNTNAP1), reduced Aβ production (Aβ40 and Aβ42) by around 70%, whereas knockdown of presenilin 1, one of the essential γ-secretase complex components, reduced Aβ production by 50%. Importantly, these proteins had a less pronounced effect on Notch processing. We conclude that VDAC1 and CNTNAP1 associate with γ-secretase in detergent-resistant membranes and affect APP processing and suggest that molecules that interfere with this interaction could be of therapeutic use for Alzheimer disease.

The proteins BACE1 and BACE2 and β-secretase activity in normal and Alzheimer's disease brain

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 574-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Stockley ◽  
C. O'Neill
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Rate Limiting Step ◽  
Secretase Activity ◽  
Aβ Amyloid ◽  
Ad Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
And Function

The insidious progression of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is believed to be linked closely to the production, accumulation and aggregation of the ∼4.5 kDa protein fragment called Aβ (amyloid β-peptide). Aβ is produced by sequential cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein by two enzymes referred to as β- and γ-secretase. β-Secretase is of central importance, as it catalyses the rate-limiting step in the production of Aβ and was identified 7 years ago as BACE1 (β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1). Soon afterwards, its homologue BACE2 was discovered, and both proteins represent a new subclass of the aspartyl protease family. Studies examining the regulation and function of β-secretase in the normal and AD brain are central to the understanding of excessive production of Aβ in AD, and in targeting and normalizing this β-secretase process if it has gone awry in the disease. Several reports indicate this, showing increased β-secretase activity in AD, with recent findings by our group showing changes in β-secretase enzyme kinetics in AD brain caused by an increased Vmax. This article gives a brief review of studies which have examined BACE1 protein levels and β-secretase activity in control and AD brain, considering further the expression of BACE2 in the human brain.

scholarly journals The Extracellular Linker of pro-Neuregulin-α2c Is Required for Efficient Sorting and Juxtacrine Function

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan C. Montero ◽  
Ruth Rodríguez-Barrueco ◽  
Laura Yuste ◽  
Pedro P. Juanes ◽  
Joana Borges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Transmembrane Proteins ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Erbb Receptors ◽  
Animal Physiology ◽  
Juxtamembrane Region ◽  
In Trans

The neuregulins (NRGs) play important roles in animal physiology, and their disregulation has been linked to diseases such as cancer or schizophrenia. The NRGs may be produced as transmembrane proteins (proNRGs), even though they lack an N-terminal signal sequence. This raises the question of how NRGs are sorted to the plasma membrane. It is also unclear whether in their transmembrane state, the NRGs are biologically active. During studies aimed at solving these questions, we found that deletion of the extracellular juxtamembrane region termed the linker, decreased cell surface exposure of the mutant proNRGΔLinker, and caused its entrapment at the cis-Golgi. We also found that cell surface–exposed transmembrane NRG forms retain biological activity. Thus, a mutant whose cleavage is impaired but is correctly sorted to the plasma membrane activated ErbB receptors in trans and also stimulated proliferation. Because the linker is implicated in surface sorting and the regulation of the cleavage of transmembrane NRGs, our data indicate that this region exerts multiple important roles in the physiology of NRGs.

Inhibition of toxicity and protofibril formation in the amyloid-β peptide β(25–35) using N-Methylated derivatives

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Doig ◽  
E. Hughes ◽  
R. M. Burke ◽  
T. J. Su ◽  
R. K. Heenan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Outer Edge ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide ◽  
Amyloidogenic Peptides ◽  
Β Amyloid ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Fibril Morphology ◽  
Derivatives Of

β(25–35) is a fragment of β-amyloid that retains its wild-type properties. N-methylated derivatives of β(25–35) can block hydrogen bonding on the outer edge of the assembling amyloid, so preventing the aggregation and inhibiting the toxicity of the wild-type peptide. The effects are assayed by Congo Red and thioflavin T binding, electron microscopy and an MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] toxicity assay. N-methyl-Gly-25 has similar properties to the wild-type, while five other methylation sites have varying effects on prefolded fibrils and fibril assembly. In particular, N-methyl-Gly-33 is able to completely prevent fibril assembly and reduces the toxicity of prefolded amyloid. With N-methyl-Leu-34 the fibril morphology is altered and toxicity reduced. A preliminary study of β(25–35) structure in aqueous solution was made by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The protofibrillar aggregates are best described as a disc of radius 140 å and height 53 å (1 å = 0.1 nm), though the possibility of polydisperse aggregates cannot be ruled out. No aggregates form in the presence of N-methyl-Gly-33. We suggest that the use of N-methylated derivatives of amyloidogenic peptides and proteins could provide a general solution to the problem of amyloid deposition and toxicity and that SANS is an important technique for the direct observation of protofibril formation and destruction in solution.

scholarly journals Statins inhibit the dimerization of β-secretase via both isoprenoid- and cholesterol-mediated mechanisms

2006 ◽  
Vol 399 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Parsons ◽  
Gemma C. Price ◽  
Joanna K. Farrant ◽  
Daryl Subramaniam ◽  
Jubril Adeagbo-Sheikh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cholesterol Biosynthesis ◽  
Active Form ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Hek 293 ◽  
Human Embryonic Kidney Cells ◽  
Cellular Effects ◽  
Aβ Amyloid ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Aβ Production

We have previously reported that protein lipidation in the form of palmitoylation and farnesylation is critical for the production of Aβ (amyloid β-peptide), the dimerization of β-secretase and its trafficking into cholesterol-rich microdomains. As statins influence these lipid modifications in addition to their effects on cholesterol biosynthesis, we have investigated the effects of lovastatin and SIMVA (simvastatin) at a range of concentrations chosen to distinguish different cellular effects on Aβ production and β-secretase structure and its localization in bHEK cells [HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells) transfected with the Asp-2 gene plus a polyhistidine coding tag] cells. We have compared the changes brought about by statins with those brought about by the palmitoylation inhibitor cerulenin and the farnesyltransferase inhibitor CVFM (Cys-Val-Phe-Met). The statin-mediated reduction in Aβ production correlated with an inhibition of β-secretase dimerization into its more active form at all concentrations of statin investigated. These effects were reversed by the administration of mevalonate, showing that these effects were mediated via 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-dependent pathways. At low (1 μM) statin concentrations, reduction in Aβ production and inhibition of β-secretase dimerization were mediated by inhibition of isoprenoid synthesis. At high (>10 μM) concentrations of statins, inhibition of β-secretase palmitoylation occurred, which we demonstrated to be regulated by intracellular cholesterol levels. There was also a concomitant concentration-dependent change in β-secretase subcellular trafficking. Significantly, Aβ release from cells was markedly higher at 50 μM SIMVA than at 1 μM, whereas these concentrations resulted in similar reductions in total Aβ production, suggesting that low-dose statins may be more beneficial than high doses for the therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Processive proteolysis by γ-secretase and the mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 393 (9) ◽  
pp. 899-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Amyloid Β Protein ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Secretase Activity

Abstract γ-Secretase is a membrane-embedded protease complex with presenilin as the catalytic component. Cleavage within the transmembrane domain of the amyloid β-protein precursor (APP) by γ-secretase produces the C-terminus of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), a proteolytic product prone to aggregation and strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Presenilin mutations are associated with early-onset AD, but their pathogenic mechanisms are unclear. One hypothesis is that these mutations cause AD through a toxic gain of function, changing γ-secretase activity to increase the proportion of 42-residue Aβ over the more soluble 40-residue form. A competing hypothesis is that the mutations cause AD through a loss of function, by reducing γ-secretase activity. However, γ-secretase apparently has two types of activities, an endoproteolytic function that first cuts APP to generate a 48/49-residue form of Aβ, and a carboxypeptidase activity that processively trims these longer Aβ intermediates approximately every three residues to form shorter, secreted forms. Recent studies suggest a resolution of the gain-of-function vs. loss-of-function debate: presenilin mutations may increase the proportion of longer, more aggregation-prone Aβ by specifically decreasing the trimming activity of γ-secretase. That is, the reduction of this particular proteolytic function of presenilin, not its endoproteolytic activity, may lead to the neurotoxic gain of function.

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