title: Proteolytic processing of the amyloid-beta protein precursor of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The proteolytic processing of the amyloid-beta protein precursor plays a key role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Cleavage of the amyloid-beta protein precursor may occur via two pathways, both of which involve the action of proteases called secretases. One pathway, involving beta- and gamma-secretase, liberates amyloid-beta protein, a protein associated with the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer's disease. The alternative pathway, involving alpha-secretase, precludes amyloid-beta protein formation. In this review, we describe the progress that has been made in identifying the secretases and their potential as therapeutic targets in the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Janelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nunan
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Small
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human