title: Characterization of the reconstituted gamma-secretase complex from Sf9 cells co-expressing presenilin 1, nicastrin [correction of nacastrin], aph-1a, and pen-2.
abstract: Gamma-secretase catalyzes the proteolytic processing of a number of integral membrane proteins, including amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Notch. The native gamma-secretase is a heterogeneous population of large membrane protein complexes containing presenilin 1 (PS1) or presenilin 2 (PS2), aph-1a or aph-1b, nicastrin, and pen-2. Here we report the reconstitution of a gamma-secretase complex in Sf9 cells by co-infection with baculoviruses carrying the PS1, nicastrin, pen-2, and aph-1a genes. The reconstituted enzyme processes C99 and the Notch-like substrate N160 and displays the characteristic features of gamma-secretase in terms of sensitivity to a gamma-secretase inhibitor, upregulation of Abeta42 production by a familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) mutation in the APP gene, and downregulation of Notch processing by PS1 FAD mutations. However, the ratio of Abeta42:Abeta40 production by the reconstituted gamma-secretase is significantly higher than that of the native enzyme from 293 cells. Unlike in mammalian cells where PS1 FAD mutations cause an increase in Abeta42 production, PS1 FAD missense mutations in the reconstitution system alter the cleavage sites in the C99 substrate without changing the Abeta42:Abeta40 ratio. In addition, PS1DeltaE9 is a loss-of-function mutation in both C99 and N160 processing. Reconstitution of gamma-secretase provides a homogeneous system for studying the individual gamma-secretase complexes and their roles in Abeta production, Notch processing and AD pathogenesis. These studies may provide important insight into the development of a new generation of selective gamma-secretase inhibitors with an improved side effect profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, USA. lili.zhang@spcorp.com
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terracina
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D053764:Presenilin-1; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; C508853:PSEN1 protein, human; C469349:PSENEN protein, human; D053764:Presenilin-1; C413604:nicastrin protein; C475154:APH1A protein, human; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human; C509282:Bace1 protein, mouse