title: Presenilin diversifies its portfolio.
abstract: Presenilin, the catalytic member of the gamma-secretase proteolytic complex, was discovered through its roles in generating Alzheimer's-disease-associated amyloid-beta peptides from the amyloid-beta precursor protein and in releasing the transcriptionally active domain of the receptor Notch. Recent work has revealed many additional cleavage substrates and interacting proteins, suggesting a diversity of roles for presenilin during development and adult life, some of which might contribute to Alzheimer's disease progression. Although many of these functions depend on the proteolytic activity of gamma-secretase, others are independent of its role as a protease. Here, we review recent data on candidate functions for presenilin and its interactors and on their potential significance in disease.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. annette.parks.1@bc.edu
authors.forename: Annette L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D053763:Presenilins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D053763:Presenilins; D016875:tau Proteins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D002118:Calcium