title: Length and overall sequence of the PEN-2 C-terminal domain determines its function in the stabilization of presenilin fragments.
abstract: Gamma-secretase is an aspartyl protease complex that catalyzes the intramembrane cleavage of a subset of type I transmembrane proteins including the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Presenilin (PS), nicastrin (NCT), anterior pharynx defective (APH-1) and presenilin enhancer-2 (PEN-2) constitute the active gamma-secretase complex. PEN-2, the smallest subunit, is required for triggering PS endoproteolysis. Stabilization of the resultant N- and C-terminal fragments, which carry the catalytically active site aspartates, but not endoproteolysis itself, requires the C-terminal domain of PEN-2. To functionally dissect the C-terminal domain we created C-terminal deletion mutants and mutagenized several evolutionary highly conserved residues. The PEN-2 mutants were then probed for functional complementation of a PEN-2 knockdown, which displays deficient PS1 endoproteolysis and impaired NCT maturation. Progressive truncation of the C-terminus caused increasing loss of function. This was also observed for an internal deletion mutant as well as for C-terminally tagged PEN-2 with a twofold elongated C-terminal domain. Interestingly, only simultaneous, but not individual substitution of the highly conserved D90, F94, P97 and G99 residues with alanine interfered with PEN-2 function. All loss of function mutants identified allowed PS1 endoproteolysis, but failed to stably associate with the resultant PS1 fragments, which like the PEN-2 loss of function mutants underwent proteasomal degradation. However, complex formation of the PEN-2 mutants with PS1 fragments could be recovered when proteasomal degradation was blocked. Taken together, our data suggest that the PS-subunit stabilizing function of PEN-2 depends on length and overall sequence of its C-terminal domain.
authors.affiliation: Adolf-Butenandt-Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prokop
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haass
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D019281:Dimerization; D010450:Endopeptidases; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D053764:Presenilin-1; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; C508853:PSEN1 protein, human; C469349:PSENEN protein, human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D053764:Presenilin-1; D021122:Protein Subunits; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human