Amino- and carboxyl-terminal heterogeneity of beta-amyloid peptides deposited in human brain.
We aimed to determine quantitatively the fine amino- and carboxyl-terminal structure of A beta peptides deposited in human brain using a set of 12 anti-A beta antibodies that distinguish between terminal modifications including isomerization, stereoisomerization, limited proteolysis, and cyclization. Immunochemical examination of cortical blocks from aged subjects distinguished by their total plaque load and from a young Down's syndrome patient identified the major invariantly deposited species as A beta x-42 (X = 1(D-aspartate) and 3(pyroglutamate) and/or 11(pyroglutamate)). These molecular forms, presumably representing by-products of metabolic intermediates toward degradation, are similar in being resistant to major aminopeptidases. A beta 17-42 ("p3' fragment), a major secreted form of truncated A beta with high insolubility, was found to be a minor one. A possible interpretation for these observations would be that proteolysis of A beta from its amino terminus may limit the rate of A beta catabolism.
Saido
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Department of Molecular Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan. saido@rinshoken.or.jp
Yamao-Harigaya
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Iwatsubo
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Kawashima
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D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor