title: The intracellular domain of the beta-amyloid precursor protein is stabilized by Fe65 and translocates to the nucleus in a notch-like manner.
abstract: The beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a ubiquitous receptor-like molecule without a known function. However, the recent recognition that APP and Notch undergo highly similar proteolytic processing has suggested a potential signaling function for APP. After ligand binding, Notch is cleaved by the ADAM-17 metalloprotease followed by an intramembrane cleavage mediated by gamma-secretase. The gamma-secretase cut releases the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which enters the nucleus and modulates transcription. Because APP is processed similarly by ADAM-17 and gamma-secretase, we reasoned that the APP intracellular domain (AICD) has a role analogous to the NICD. We therefore generated a plasmid encoding the AICD sequence and studied the subcellular localization of the expressed protein (C60). Our results demonstrate that the cytoplasmic domain of APP is a highly labile fragment that is stabilized by forming complexes with Fe65 and can then enter the nucleus in neurons and non-neural cells. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that APP signals in the nucleus in a manner analogous to the function of Notch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Kimberly
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Guénette
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Selkoe
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D006207:Half-Life; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C091042:APBB1 protein, human; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C088731:Su(H) protein, Drosophila; D015534:Trans-Activators; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; C000606462:ADAM17 protein, human