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RESEARCH PRODUCT

The Non-Amyloidogenic Pathway: Structure and Function of α-Secretases

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description

The amyloid cascade hypothesis is the most accepted explanation for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). APP is the precursor of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ), the principal proteinaceous component of amyloid plaques in brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Proteolytic cleavage of APP by the α-secretase within the Aβ sequence precludes formation of amyloidogenic peptides and leads to a release of soluble APPsα which has neuroprotective properties. In several studies, a decreased amount of APPsα in the cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients has been observed. Three members of the ADAM family (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) ADAM-10, ADAM-17 (TACE) and ADAM-9 have been proposed as α-secretases. We review the evidence for each of these enzymes acting as a physiologically relevant α-secretase. In particular, we focus on ADAM-10, which recently was shown in a transgenic mouse model for AD, to act as an α-secretase in vivo. We also discuss the pharmacological up-regulation of α-secretases as a possible therapeutic treatment for AD.