title: A distinct ER/IC gamma-secretase competes with the proteasome for cleavage of APP.
abstract: The deposition of amyloid-beta peptides (Abeta) in senile plaques (SPs) is a central pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since SPs are composed predominantly of Abeta1-42, which is more amyloidogenic in vitro, the enzymes involved in generating Abeta1-42 may be particularly important to the pathogenesis of AD. In contrast to Abeta1-40, which is generated in the trans-Golgi network and other cytoplasmic organelles, intracellular Abeta1-42 is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum/intermediate compartment (ER/IC), where it accumulates in a stable insoluble pool. Since this pool of insoluble Abeta1-42 may play a critical role in AD amyloidogenesis, we sought to determine how the production of intracellular Abeta is regulated. Surprisingly, the production of insoluble intracellular Abeta1-42 was increased by a putative gamma-secretase inhibitor as well as by an inhibitor of the proteasome. We further demonstrate that this increased generation of Abeta1-42 in the ER/IC is due to a reduction in the turnover of Abeta-containing APP C-terminal fragments. We conclude that the proteasome is a novel site for degradation of ER/IC-generated APP fragments. Proteasome inhibitors may augment the availability of APP C-terminal fragments for gamma-secretase cleavage and thereby increase production of Abeta1-42 in the ER/IC. Based on the organelle-specific differences in the generation of Abeta by gamma-secretase, we conclude that intracellular ER/IC-generated Abeta1-42 and secreted Abeta1-40 are produced by different gamma-secretases. Further, the fact that a putative gamma-secretase inhibitor had opposite effects on the production of secreted and intracellular Abeta may have important implications for AD drug design.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Skovronsky
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pijak
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Doms
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D016466:CHO Cells; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D006224:Cricetinae; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007976:Leupeptins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); C067713:lactacystin; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; C072553:benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde; D000111:Acetylcysteine