title: Gamma-secretase: never more enigmatic.
abstract: It is widely believed that the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is intimately, if not causatively, associated with the deposition of approximately 4 kDa beta-amyloid (A beta) peptides in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of affected individuals. A beta peptides are liberated from transmembrane proteins, termed beta-amyloid precursor proteins (APP), by the concerted action of beta- and gamma-secretase(s). Whereas the identity of beta-secretase is no longer in question, the identity of gamma-secretase, which is responsible for the intramembranous processing of APP, has never been more enigmatic. Considerable evidence has accrued to impugn the presenilins (PS) as the executioners of intramembranous processing of APP. Here, we summarize these observations and review recent evidence that argues against the prevailing hypothesis that PS function as gamma-secretases.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Dept of Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, The University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA. ssisodia@drugs.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sisodia
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Annaert
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Strooper
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human