Shedding of the amyloid precursor protein-like protein APLP2 by disintegrin-metalloproteinases

Cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) within the amyloid-beta (Aβ) sequence by the α-secretase prevents the formation of toxic Aβ peptides. It has been shown that the disintegrin-metalloproteinases ADAM10 and TACE (ADAM17) act as α-secretases and stimulate the generation of a soluble neuroprotective fragment of APP, APPsα. Here we demonstrate that the related APP-like protein 2 (APLP2), which has been shown to be essential for development and survival of mice, is also a substrate for both proteinases. Overexpression of either ADAM10 or TACE in HEK293 cells increased the release of neurotrophic soluble APLP2 severalfold. The strongest inhibition of APLP2 shedding in neuroblastoma c…