title: Amyloid beta secretase gene (BACE) is neither mutated in nor associated with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The beta-site of beta-amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) cleaves the beta-amyloid (Abeta) precursor protein at the N-terminal end of Abeta, allowing for the production of Abeta by C-terminal gamma-secretase cleavage. We hypothesized that over-activity of BACE might lead to the overproduction of Abeta, hence causing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Molecular genetic analyses of BACE in 9 autosomal dominant AD families and a population-based sample of 101 presenile AD cases did not identify genetic linkage, pathogenic mutations or genetic association with BACE, suggesting that BACE is not genetically involved in the etiology of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruts
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dermaut
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rademakers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roks
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van den Broeck
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Munteanu
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Duijn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Broeckhoven
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human