title: Biological function of Presenilin and its role in AD pathogenesis.
abstract: Presenilins (PSs) are the catalytic core of γ-secretase complex. However, the mechanism of FAD-associated PS mutations in AD pathogenesis still remains elusive. Here we review the general biology and mechanism of γ-secretase and focus on the catalytic components - presenilins and their biological functions and contributions to the AD pathogenesis. The functions of presenilins are divided into γ-secretase dependent and γ-secretase independent ones. The γ-secretase dependent functions of presenilins are exemplified by the sequential cleavages in the processing of APP and Notch; the γ-secretase independent functions of presenilins include stabilizing β-catenin in Wnt signaling pathway, regulating calcium homeostasis and their interaction with synaptic transmission.
authors.affiliation: Townsend Family Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. weihong@mail.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Shuting
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song