title: Structural features of human memapsin 2 (beta-secretase) and their biological and pathological implications.
abstract: Memapsin 2 (beta-secretase) is the membrane-anchored aspartic protease that initiates the cleavage of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) leading to the production of amyloid-beta (Abeta), a major factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since memapsin 2 is a major target for the development of inhibitor drugs for AD, it has been intensively studied during the past five years. Here we discuss the structural features of the catalytic/specificity apparatus, transmembrane domain, cytosolic domain and the implications of these features in the physiological and pathological roles of this protease.
authors.affiliation: Protein Studies Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Xiangyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiangping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wanpin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D020134:Catalytic Domain / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D010450:Endopeptidases; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D008024:Ligands; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human