Release of excess amyloid beta protein from a mutant amyloid beta protein precursor.
The 4-kilodalton amyloid beta protein (A beta), which forms fibrillar deposits in Alzheimer's disease (AD), is derived from a large protein referred to as the amyloid beta protein precursor (beta APP). Human neuroblastoma (M17) cells transfected with constructs expressing wild-type beta APP or a mutant, beta APP delta NL, recently linked to familial AD were compared. After continuous metabolic labeling for 8 hours, cells expressing beta APP delta NL had five times more of an A beta-bearing, carboxyl terminal, beta APP derivative than cells expressing wild-type beta APP and they released six times more A beta into the medium. Thus this mutant beta APP may cause AD because its processing is altered in a way that releases increased amounts of A beta.
Cai
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Division of Neuropathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Golde
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Younkin
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D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides