title: Presenilin-dependent regulated intramembrane proteolysis and gamma-secretase activity.
abstract: Inhibiting the production of amyloid-beta by antagonising gamma-secretase activity is currently being pursued as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, early pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that disruption of presenilin-dependent gamma-secretase alters many presenilin-dependent processes, leading to early lethality in several AD model organisms. Subsequently, transgenic animal studies have highlighted several gross developmental side effects arising from presenilin deficiency. Partial knockdown or tissue-specific knockout of presenilins has identified the skin, vascular and immune systems as very sensitive to loss of presenilin functions. A more appreciative understanding of presenilin biology is therefore demanded if gamma-secretase is to be pursued as a therapeutic target. Herein we review the current understanding of gamma-secretase complexes; their regulation, abundance of interacting partners and diversity of substrates. We also discuss regulation of the gamma-secretase complexes, with an emphasis on the functional role of presenilins in cell biology.
authors.affiliation: Signal Transduction Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. jv.mccarthy@ucc.ie
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wujek
mesh_terms: D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D008954:Models, Biological; D053763:Presenilins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D053763:Presenilins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases