Intracellular domain generation of amyloid precursor protein by epsilon-cleavage depends on C-terminal fragment by alpha-secretase cleavage

Int J Mol Med. 2004 Jan;13(1):121-5.

Abstract

A significant accumulation of Abeta is major pathological feature in the brain in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is cleaved by alpha- and beta-secretase, resulting in secretion of extracellular domain. Then the remaining membrane-anchored C-terminal fragments (CTFalpha or CTFbeta) are cleaved by gamma-secretase. Therefore, Abeta is derived from APP by sequential proteolytic processing involving 2 proteases, called beta- and gamma-secretase. Gamma-secretase cleavage results in the generation of the APP intracellular domain (AICD), as well as Abeta. Recently, AICD is generated by epsilon-cleavage site near the cytoplasmic membrane boundary of APP, not by gamma-cleavage site in the middle of transmembrane domain. We show that elevated beta-secretase levels induced the increase in CTFbeta and Abeta generation and reduction of CTFalpha and AICD generation in vitro. Furthermore, elevated alpha-secretase levels induced an increase of AICD. The results suggest that generation of AICD by epsilon-cleavage depends on CTFalpha and that gamma- and epsilon-cleavage are differentially regulated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • COS Cells
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Endopeptidases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases