title: Amyloid beta-protein and lipid rafts: focused on biogenesis and catabolism.
abstract: Cerebral accumulation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) is thought to play a key role in the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Three secretases (β-, γ-, and α-secretase) are proteases that control the production of Aβ from amyloid precursor protein. Increasing evidence suggests that cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains termed 'lipid rafts' are involved in the biogenesis and accumulation of Aβ as well as Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity. γ-Secretase is enriched in lipid rafts, which are considered an important site for Aβ generation. Additionally, Aβ-degrading peptidases located in lipid rafts, such as neprilysin, appear to play a role in Aβ catabolism. This mini-review focuses on the roles of lipid rafts in the biogenesis and catabolism of Aβ, covering recent research on the relationship between lipid rafts and the three secretases or Aβ-degrading peptidases. Furthermore, the significance of lipid rafts in Aβ aggregation and neurotoxicity is briefly summarized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Demyelinating disease and Aging, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Department of Demyelinating disease and Aging, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamaoka
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides