title: The very many faces of presenilins and the γ-secretase complex.
abstract: Presenilin is a central, catalytic component of the γ-secretase complex which conducts intramembrane cleavage of various protein substrates. Although identified and mainly studied through its role in the development of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer disease, γ-secretase has many other important functions. The complex seems to be evolutionary conserved throughout the Metazoa, but recent findings in plants and Dictyostelium discoideum as well as in archeons suggest that its evolution and functions might be much more diversified than previously expected. In this review, a selective survey of the multitude of functions of presenilins and the γ-secretase complex is presented. Following a brief overview of γ-secretase structure, assembly and maturation, three functional aspects are analyzed: (1) the role of γ-secretase in autophagy and phagocytosis; (2) involvement of the complex in signaling related to endocytosis; and (3) control of calcium fluxes by presenilins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Michalina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smolarkiewicz
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skrzypczak
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wojtaszek
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D053763:Presenilins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053763:Presenilins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases