Presenilin 1 regulates the processing of beta-amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragments and the generation of amyloid beta-protein in endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi

Subcellular dynamics and functional activity of the cleaved intracellular domain of the Na+ channel β1 subunit

The voltage-gated Na⁺ channel β1 subunit, encoded by SCN1B, regulates cell surface expression and gating of α subunits and participates in cell adhesion. β1 is cleaved by α/β and γ-secretases, releasing an extracellular domain and intracellular domain (ICD), respectively. Abnormal SCN1B expression/function is linked to pathologies including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, and cancer. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of secretase cleavage on β1 function in breast cancer cells. Using a series of GFP-tagged β1 constructs, we show that β1-GFP is mainly retained intracellularly, particularly in the endoplasmic reticulum and endolysosomal pathway, and accumulates in the nucleus. Reduction in endosomal β1-GFP levels occurred following γ-secretase inhibition, implicating endosomes and/or the preceding plasma membrane as important sites for secretase processing. Using live-cell imaging, we also report β1ICD-GFP accumulation in the nucleus. Furthermore, β1-GFP and β1ICD-GFP both increased Na⁺ current, whereas β1STOP-GFP, which lacks the ICD, did not, thus highlighting that the β1-ICD is necessary and sufficient to increase Na⁺ current measured at the plasma membrane. Importantly, although the endogenous Na⁺ current expressed in MDA-MB-231 cells is tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant (carried by Na_v1.5), the Na⁺ current increased by β1-GFP or β1ICD-GFP was TTX-sensitive. Finally, we found β1-GFP increased mRNA levels of the TTX-sensitive α subunits SCN1A/Na_v1.1 and SCN9A/Na_v1.7. Taken together, this work suggests that the β1-ICD is a critical regulator of α subunit function in cancer cells. Our data further highlight that γ-secretase may play a key role in regulating β1 function in breast cancer.

Melatonin Attenuates Methamphetamine-Induced Alteration of Amyloid β Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme Expressions via Melatonin Receptor in Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prominent neurodegenerative disease represented by the loss of memory and cognitive impairment symptoms and is one of the major health imperilments among the elderly. Amyloid (Aβ) deposit inside the neuron is one of the characteristic pathological hallmarks of this disease, leading to neuronal cell death. In the amyloidogenic processing, the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is cleaved by beta-secretase and γ-secretase to generate Aβ. Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant drug that causes neurodegeneration and detrimental cognitive deficits. The analogy between the neurotoxic and neurodegenerative profile of METH and AD pathology necessitates an exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms. In the present study, we found that METH ineluctably affects APP processing, which might contribute to the marked production of Aβ in human neuroblastoma cells. Melatonin, an indolamine produced and released by the pineal gland as well as other extrapineal, has been protective against METH-induced neurodegenerative processes, thus rescuing neuronal cell death. However, the precise action of melatonin on METH has yet to be determined. We further propose to investigate the protective properties of melatonin on METH-induced APP-cleaving secretases. Pretreatment with melatonin significantly reversed METH-induced APP-cleaving secretases and Aβ production. In addition, pretreatment with luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, significantly prevented the protective effect of melatonin, suggesting that the attenuation of the toxic effect on METH-induced APP processing by melatonin was mediated via melatonin receptor. The present results suggested that melatonin has a beneficial role in preventing Aβ generation in a cellular model of METH-induced AD.

Carboxy-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein mediates lipid droplet accumulation upon γ-secretase inhibition

γ-Secretase is a protease catalysing the proteolysis of type-I membrane proteins usually after precedent ectodomain shedding of the respective protein substrates. Since proteolysis of membrane proteins is involved in fundamental cellular signaling pathways, dysfunction of γ-secretase can have significant impact on cellular metabolism and differentiation. Here, we examined the role of γ-secretase in cellular lipid metabolism using neuronally differentiated human SH-SY5Y cells. The pharmacological inhibition of γ-secretase induced lipid droplet (LD) accumulation. The LD accumulation was significantly attenuated by preventing the accumulation of C-terminal fragment of the amyloid precursor protein (APP-CTF), which is a direct substrate of γ-secretase. Additionally, LD accumulation upon γ-secretase inhibition was not induced in APP-knock out (APP-KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), suggesting significant involvement of APP-CTF accumulation in LD accumulation upon γ-secretase inhibition. On the other hand, γ-secretase inhibition-dependent cholesterol accumulation was not attenuated by inhibition of APP-CTF accumulation in the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells nor in APP-KO MEFs. These results suggest that γ-secretase inhibition can induce accumulation of LD and cholesterol differentially via APP-CTF accumulation.

Alzheimer's Disease in the Down Syndrome: An Overview of Genetics and Molecular Aspects

The overexpression of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene, encoded on chromosome 21, has been associated in Down syndrome (DS) with the development of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD). The increase in APP levels leads to an overproduction of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide that accumulates in the brain. In response to this deposition, microglial cells are active and generate cascade events that include release cytokines and chemokine. The prolonged activation microglial cells induce neuronal loss, production of reactive oxygen species, neuron death, neuroinflammation, and consequently the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The intrinsically deficient immune systems in people with DS result in abnormalities in cytokine levels, which possibly contribute to the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. Knowledge about the biomarkers involved in the process of neurodegeneration and neuroinflamation is important for understanding the mechanisms involved in the incidence and the precocity of AD in individuals with DS.

Amyloid-β Peptide Nitrotyrosination Stabilizes Oligomers and Enhances NMDAR-Mediated Toxicity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pathological aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). Monomeric soluble Aβ can switch from helicoidal to β-sheet conformation, promoting its assembly into oligomers and subsequently to amyloid fibrils. Oligomers are highly toxic to neurons and have been reported to induce synaptic transmission impairments. The progression from oligomers to fibrils forming senile plaques is currently considered a protective mechanism to avoid the presence of the highly toxic oligomers. Protein nitration is a frequent post-translational modification under AD nitrative stress conditions. Aβ can be nitrated at tyrosine 10 (Y10) by peroxynitrite. Based on our analysis of ThT binding, Western blot and electron and atomic force microscopy, we report that Aβ nitration stabilizes soluble, highly toxic oligomers and impairs the formation of fibrils. We propose a mechanism by which fibril elongation is interrupted upon Y10 nitration: Nitration disrupts fibril-forming folds by preventing H14-mediated bridging, as shown with an Aβ analog containing a single residue (H to E) replacement that mimics the behavior of nitrated Aβ related to fibril formation and neuronal toxicity. The pathophysiological role of our findings in AD was highlighted by the study of these nitrated oligomers on mouse hippocampal neurons, where an increased NMDAR-dependent toxicity of nitrated Aβ oligomers was observed. Our results show that Aβ nitrotyrosination is a post-translational modification that increases Aβ synaptotoxicity.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

We report that nitration (i.e., the irreversible addition of a nitro group) of the Alzheimer-related peptide amyloid-β (Aβ) favors the stabilization of highly toxic oligomers and inhibits the formation of Aβ fibrils. The nitrated Aβ oligomers are more toxic to neurons due to increased cytosolic calcium levels throughout their action on NMDA receptors. Sustained elevated calcium levels trigger excitotoxicity, a characteristic event in Alzheimer's disease.

Dysregulation of intracellular trafficking and endosomal sorting in Alzheimer's disease: controversies and unanswered questions

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain consisting of an aggregated form of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) derived from sequential amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by membrane-bound proteases β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and γ-secretase. The initial processing of APP by BACE1 is re-gulated by intracellular sorting events of the enzyme, which is a prime target for therapeutic intervention. GWAS (genome-wide sequencing studies) have identified several AD-susceptibility genes that are associated with the regulation of membrane trafficking, and substantial evidence now indicates that AD is likely to arise from defective membrane trafficking in either or both of the secretory and endocytic pathways. Considerable progress has been made in defining the intracellular trafficking pathways of BACE1 and APP and the sorting signals of these membrane proteins that define their itineraries. In this review we highlight recent advances in understanding the regulation of the intracellular sorting of BACE1 and APP, discuss how dysregulation of these trafficking events may lead to enhanced generation of the neurotoxic Aβ products in AD and highlight the unresolved questions in the field.

Netrin-1 Interrupts Amyloid-β Amplification, Increases sAβPPα in vitro and in vivo, and Improves Cognition in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Recent studies have shown that inoculation of susceptible mice with amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides accelerates Aβ deposition in the brain, supporting the idea that Aβ may be self-amplifying; however, the exact mechanism is not understood. Here we provide evidence that Aβ may self-amplify, in part, by inhibiting α-secretase ADAM10 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) cleavage of full-length Aβ precursor protein (FL AβPP) and therefore allow greater β-secretase processing, and that Aβ itself is a substrate for ADAM10. Exposure of primary neuronal cultures from PDAβPP mice to exogenous rat Aβ1- 40 resulted in increased de novo human Aβ1-42 production and exposure of cells to Aβ decreased production of ADAM10 cleavage product soluble AβPPα (sAβPPα). In a cell-free assay, Aβ decreased ADAM10 cleavage of the chimeric substrate MBP-AβPPC125 and Aβ itself was apparently cleaved by the enzyme. The axonal guidance and trophic factor netrin-1, however, reduced the Aβ1- 40-induced Aβ1-42 increase, increased sAβPPα, and reversed the Aβ-induced sAβPPα decrease in vitro. In vivo, induction of netrin-1 expression in PDAβPPSwe/Ind transgenic mice resulted in reductions in both Aβ1-42 and Aβ1- 40, and ICV delivery of netrin-1 to PDAβPPSwe/Ind mice increased sAβPPα, decreased Aβ, and improved working memory. Finally, to support further study of netrin-1's potential as a therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease, pilot gene therapy studies were performed and a netrin mimetic peptide synthesized and tested that, like netrin, can increase sAβPPα and decrease Aβ1-42in vitro. Taken together, these data provide mechanistic insights into Aβ self-amplification and the ability of netrin-1 to disrupt it.

Identification of Phlogacantholide C as a Novel ADAM10 Enhancer from Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants

Background: Alzheimer's disease is one of the most prevalent dementias in the elderly population with increasing numbers of patients. One pivotal hallmark of this disorder is the deposition of protein aggregates stemming from neurotoxic amyloid-beta peptides. Synthesis of those peptides has been efficiently prevented in AD model mice by activation of an enzyme called alpha-secretase. Therefore, drugs with the capability to increase the expression of this enzyme, named ADAM10, have been suggested as a valuable therapeutic medication. Methods: We investigated 69 substances from a drug library derived from traditional Chinese medicine by luciferase reporter assay in human neuronal cells for their potential to selectively induce alpha-secretase expression. Western blot analysis was used to confirm results on the protein level. Results: Ten of the 69 investigated compounds led to induction of ADAM10 transcriptional activity while BACE-1 (beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1) and APP (amyloid precursor protein) expression were not induced. Two of them-Norkurarinol and Phlogacantholide C-showed substantial elevation of ADAM10 protein levels and Phlogacantholide C also increased secretion of the ADAM10-derived cleavage product APPs-alpha. Conclusion: Phlogacantholide C represents a novel ADAM10 gene expression enhancer from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs that may lay the groundwork for evolving potential novel therapeutics in Alzheimer's disease.

Part 2. Notch-sparing γ-secretase inhibitors: The study of novel γ-amino naphthyl alcohols

One therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease is to inhibit the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase. At the beginning of a series of studies from our laboratories, a series of novel γ-amino alcohols (1) were found to possess γ-secretase inhibitory activity and Notch-sparing effects. A new one-pot synthesis of γ-amino alcohols and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of these analogs will be discussed.

Part 3: Notch-sparing γ-secretase inhibitors: SAR studies of 2-substituted aminopyridopyrimidinones

In search for novel lead compounds as γ-secretase inhibitors, analogs of aminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-ones (I) were synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory effects on amyloid-β-peptide production and cleavage of the Notch1 receptor mediated by γ-secretase. Selected pyridopyrimidines, such as 1, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 16 are γ-secretase inhibitors that did not have an effect on Notch1 receptor processing.

Part 1: Notch-sparing γ-secretase inhibitors: The identification of novel naphthyl and benzofuranyl amide analogs

γ-Secretase is one of two proteases directly involved in the production of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), which is pathogenic in Alzheimer's disease. Inhibition of γ-secretase to suppress the production of Aβ should not block processing of one of its alternative substrates, Notch1 receptors, as interference with Notch1 signaling leads to severe toxic effects. In the course of our studies to identify γ-secretase inhibitors with selectivity for APP over Notch, 1 [3-(benzyl(isopropyl)amino)-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)propan-1-one] was found to inhibit γ-secretase-mediated Aβ production without interfering with γ-secretase-mediated Notch processing in purified enzyme assays. As 1 is chemically unstable, efforts to increase the stability of this compound led to the identification of 2 [naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid benzyl-isopropyl-amide] which showed similar biological activity to compound 1. Synthesis and evaluation of a series of amide analogs resulted in benzofuranyl amide analogs that showed promising Notch-sparing γ-secretase inhibitory effects. This class of compounds may serve as a novel lead series for further study in the development of γ-secretase inhibitors.

The pathogenic human Torsin A in Drosophila activates the unfolded protein response and increases susceptibility to oxidative stress

Background

Dystonia1 (DYT1) dystonia is caused by a glutamic acid deletion (ΔE) mutation in the gene encoding Torsin A in humans (HTorA). To investigate the unknown molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying DYT1 dystonia, we performed an unbiased proteomic analysis.

Results

We found that the amount of proteins and transcripts of an Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident chaperone Heat shock protein cognate 3 (HSC3) and a mitochondria chaperone Heat Shock Protein 22 (HSP22) were significantly increased in the HTorA^ΔE– expressing brains compared to the normal HTorA (HTorA^WT) expressing brains. The physiological consequences included an increased susceptibility to oxidative and ER stress compared to normal HTorA^WT flies. The alteration of transcripts of Inositol-requiring enzyme-1 (IRE1)-dependent spliced X box binding protein 1(Xbp1), several ER chaperones, a nucleotide exchange factor, Autophagy related protein 8b (ATG8b) and components of the ER associated degradation (ERAD) pathway and increased expression of the Xbp1-enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein (eGFP) in HTorA^ΔE brains strongly indicated the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). In addition, perturbed expression of the UPR sensors and inducers in the HTorA^ΔEDrosophila brains resulted in a significantly reduced life span of the flies. Furthermore, the types and quantities of proteins present in the anti-HSC3 positive microsomes in the HTorA^ΔE brains were different from those of the HTorA^WT brains.

Conclusion

Taken together, these data show that HTorA^ΔE in Drosophila brains may activate the UPR and increase the expression of HSP22 to compensate for the toxic effects caused by HTorA^ΔE in the brains.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1518-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Unlocking truths of γ-secretase in Alzheimer's disease: what is the translational potential?

Considerable evidence, particularly from genetics, points to the aggregation-prone amyloid β-peptide as a pathogenic entity in Alzheimer's disease. Hence, the proteases that produce this peptide from its precursor protein have been prime targets for the development of potential therapeutics. One of these proteases, γ-secretase, has been a particular focus. Many inhibitors and modulators of this membrane-embedded protease complex have been identified, with some brought into late-stage clinical trials, where they have spectacularly failed. The reasons for these failures will be discussed, along with recent findings on the mechanism of γ-secretase and of Alzheimer-causing mutations that may suggest new strategies for targeting this enzyme.

Conformational targeting of intracellular Aβ oligomers demonstrates their pathological oligomerization inside the endoplasmic reticulum

Aβ oligomers (AβOs) are crucially involved in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, the lack of selective approaches for targeting these polymorphic Aβ assemblies represents a major hurdle in understanding their biosynthesis, traffic and actions in living cells. Here, we established a subcellularly localized conformational-selective interference (CSI) approach, based on the expression of a recombinant antibody fragment against AβOs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). By CSI, we can control extra- and intracellular pools of AβOs produced in an AD-relevant cell model, without interfering with the maturation and processing of the Aβ precursor protein. The anti-AβOs intrabody selectively intercepts critical AβO conformers in the ER, modulating their assembly and controlling their actions in pathways of cellular homeostasis and synaptic signalling. Our results demonstrate that intracellular Aβ undergoes pathological oligomerization through critical conformations formed inside the ER. This establishes intracellular AβOs as key targets for AD treatment and presents CSI as a potential targeting strategy.

Intracellular Aß oligomers have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease but details about their biosynthesis and function have been hard to obtain due to the lack of selective approaches for targeting them. Here, Meli et al. develop a strategy using recombinant antibodies to target Aß oligomers in the endoplasmic reticulum of cells, and perform mechanistic studies in cellular models of the disease.

Genetic deletion of TNFRII gene enhances the Alzheimer-like pathology in an APP transgenic mouse model via reduction of phosphorylated IκBα

Tumor necrosis factor receptor II (TNFRII) is one of the TNF receptor superfamily members and our recent pathological studies show that TNFRII is deficient in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms of TNFRII in AD pathogenesis remain unclear. In the present study, by using the gene-targeting approach to delete TNFRII in AD transgenic mouse model, we found that, in the brain of APP23 mice with TNFRII deletion (APP23/TNFRII(-/-)), AD-like pathology, i.e. plaque formation and microglial activation, occurs as early as 6 months of age. To test whether the increased levels of Aβ plaques was due to elevated Aβ, we measured Aβ and found that Aβ levels indeed were significantly increased at this age. Because β-secretase, BACE1, is critical enzyme for Aβ production, we have examined BACE1 and found that BACE1 is increased in both protein levels and enzymatic activity as early as 6 months of age; Having shown that BACE1 promoter region contains NF-κB binding sites, we found that cytoplasmic NF-κB was elevated and SUMO1 binding to IκBα was decreased. To further verify these findings, we have overexpressed TNFRII and identified that overexpressing TNFRII can reverse the findings from APP23/TNFRII(-/-) mice. Altogether, our results demonstrate novel roles of TNFRII in the regulation of Aβ production, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for AD by up-regulating TNFRII levels and elevating phosphorylated IκBα by SUMOylation.

Membrane recruitment of endogenous LRRK2 precedes its potent regulation of autophagy

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common cause of familial and idiopathic Parkinson's disease. However, the mechanisms for activating its physiological function are not known, hindering identification of the biological role of endogenous LRRK2. The recent discovery that LRRK2 is highly expressed in cells of the innate immune system and genetic association is a risk factor for autoimmune disorders implies an important role for LRRK2 in pathology outside of the central nervous system. Thus, an examination of endogenous LRRK2 in immune cells could provide insight into the protein's function. Here, we establish that stimulation of specific Toll-like receptors results in a complex biochemical activation of endogenous LRRK2, with early phosphorylation of LRRK2 preceding its dimerization and membrane translocation. Membrane-associated LRRK2 co-localized to autophagosome membranes following either TLR4 stimulation or mTOR inhibition with rapamycin. Silencing of endogenous LRRK2 expression resulted in deficits in the induction of autophagy and clearance of a well-described macroautophagy substrate, demonstrating the critical role of endogenous LRRK2 in regulating autophagy. Inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity also reduced autophagic degradation and suggested the importance of the kinase domain in the regulation of autophagy. Our results demonstrate a well-orchestrated series of biochemical events involved in the activation of LRRK2 important to its physiological function. With similarities observed across multiple cell types and stimuli, these findings are likely relevant in all cell types that natively express endogenous LRRK2, and provide insights into LRRK2 function and its role in human disease.

Hydrogen sulfide improves spatial memory impairment and decreases production of Aβ in APP/PS1 transgenic mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined both by its progressive cognitive deterioration and hallmark increase in neuronal Aβ plaque formation. However, many of the underlying neurobiological facets of this disease are still being elucidated. Previous research has demonstrated that production of neuronal hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is significantly decreased in patients with AD. Moreover, systemic plasma H2S levels are negatively correlated with its severity. However, how a decrease in H2S production might be correlated with either the etiology or pathophysiology of AD remains unknown. To better understand the role of H2S in AD, we examined both levels of H2S and the expression and activity H2S-synthesizing enzyme (cystathionine beta synthase or CBS) in an APP/PS1 transgenic mouse line at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. After intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of an H2S donor (NaHS) into APP/PS1 mice, application of exogenous H2S resulted in improved spatial learning and memory acquisition in APP/PS1 mice. H2S administration also led to significant decrease in extracellular levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42, the expression of BACE1 and PS1, and a significant increase of ADAM17 expression. Similarly, an increase in non-amyloidogenic C83 fragment generation and a decrease in amyloidogenic C99 fragment generation were also observed. Thus, NaHS application resulted in a shift from the plaque-forming beta pathway to the non-plaque forming alpha pathway of APP cleavage in 6 and 12 month APP/PS1 mice. These results indicate the importance of H2S to AD severity and that administration of exogenous H2S can promote a non-amyloidogenic processing of APP.

Turnover of C99 is controlled by a crosstalk between ERAD and ubiquitin-independent lysosomal degradation in human neuroglioma cells

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the buildup of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) aggregates derived from proteolytic processing of the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). Amyloidogenic cleavage of APP by β-secretase/BACE1 generates the C-terminal fragment C99/CTFβ that can be subsequently cleaved by γ-secretase to produce Aβ. Growing evidence indicates that high levels of C99/CTFβ are determinant for AD. Although it has been postulated that γ-secretase-independent pathways must control C99/CTFβ levels, the contribution of organelles with degradative functions, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or lysosomes, is unclear. In this report, we investigated the turnover and amyloidogenic processing of C99/CTFβ in human H4 neuroglioma cells, and found that C99/CTFβ is localized at the Golgi apparatus in contrast to APP, which is mostly found in endosomes. Conditions that localized C99/CTFβ to the ER resulted in its degradation in a proteasome-dependent manner that first required polyubiquitination, consistent with an active role of the ER associated degradation (ERAD) in this process. Furthermore, when proteasomal activity was inhibited C99/CTFβ was degraded in a chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive compartment, implicating lysosomes as alternative sites for its degradation. Our results highlight a crosstalk between degradation pathways within the ER and lysosomes to avoid protein accumulation and toxicity.

SGK196 is a glycosylation-specific O-mannose kinase required for dystroglycan function

Phosphorylated O-mannosyl trisaccharide [N-acetylgalactosamine-β3-N-acetylglucosamine-β4-(phosphate-6-)mannose] is required for dystroglycan to bind laminin-G domain-containing extracellular proteins with high affinity in muscle and brain. However, the enzymes that produce this structure have not been fully elucidated. We found that glycosyltransferase-like domain-containing 2 (GTDC2) is a protein O-linked mannose β 1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase whose product could be extended by β 1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase2 (B3GALNT2) to form the O-mannosyl trisaccharide. Furthermore, we identified SGK196 as an atypical kinase that phosphorylated the 6-position of O-mannose, specifically after the mannose had been modified by both GTDC2 and B3GALNT2. These findings suggest how mutations in GTDC2, B3GALNT2, and SGK196 disrupt dystroglycan receptor function and lead to congenital muscular dystrophy.

Discovery of a novel pharmacological and structural class of gamma secretase modulators derived from the extract of Actaea racemosa

A screen of a library of synthetic drugs and natural product extracts identified a botanical extract that modulates the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in cultured cells to produce a lowered ratio of amyloid-beta peptide (1-42) (Aβ42) relative to Aβ40. This profile is of interest as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The extract, from the black cohosh plant (Actaea racemosa), was subjected to bioassay guided fractionation to isolate active components. Using a combination of normal-phase and reverse-phase chromatography, a novel triterpene monoglycoside, 1, was isolated. This compound was found to have an IC(50) of 100 nM for selectively reducing the production of amyloidogenic Aβ42 while having a much smaller effect on the production of Aβ40 (IC(50) 6.3 μM) in cultured cells overexpressing APP. Using IP-MS methods, this compound was found to modulate the pool of total Aβ produced by reducing the proportion of Aβ42 while increasing the relative amounts of shorter and less amyloidogenic Aβ37 and Aβ39. Concentrations of 1 sufficient to lower levels of Aβ42 substantially (up to 10 μM) did not significantly affect the processing of Notch or other aspects of APP processing. When 1 (10 μg) was administered to CD-1 normal mice intracerebroventricularly, the level of Aβ42 in brain was reduced. Assays for off-target pharmacology and the absence of overt signs of toxicity in mice dosed with compound 1 suggest a comparatively selective pharmacology for this triterpenoid. Compound 1 represents a new lead for the development of potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease via modulation of gamma-secretase.

The many substrates of presenilin/γ-secretase

The Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) is cleaved by α-, β-, and presenilin (PS)/γ-secretases through sequential regulated proteolysis. These proteolytic events control the generation of the pathogenic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, which excessively accumulates in the brains of individuals afflicted by AD. A growing number of additional proteins cleaved by PS/γ-secretase continue to be discovered. Similarly to AβPP, most of these proteins are type-I transmembrane proteins involved in vital signaling functions regulating cell fate, adhesion, migration, neurite outgrowth, or synaptogenesis. All the identified proteins share common structural features, which are typical for their proteolysis. The consequences of the PS/γ-secretase-mediated cleavage on the function of many of these proteins are largely unknown. Here, we review the current literature on the proteolytic processing mediated by the versatile PS/γ-secretase complex. We begin by discussing the steps of AβPP processing and PS/γ-secretase complex composition and localization, which give clues to how and where the processing of other PS/γ-secretase substrates may take place. Then we summarize the typical features of PS/γ-secretase-mediated protein processing. Finally, we recapitulate the current knowledge on the possible physiological function of PS/γ-secretase-mediated cleavage of specific substrate proteins.

Structural and Functional Determinants of gamma-Secretase, an Intramembrane Protease Implicated in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of neurodegenerative diseases in humans, characterized by the progressive accumulation and aggregation of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) in brain regions subserving memory and cognition. These 39-43 amino acids long peptides are generated by the sequential proteolytic cleavages of the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases, with the latter being the founding member of a new class of intramembrane-cleaving proteases (I-CliPs) characterized by their intramembranous catalytic residues hydrolyzing the peptide bonds within the transmembrane regions of their respective substrates. These proteases include the S2P family of metalloproteases, the Rhomboid family of serine proteases, and two aspartyl proteases: the signal peptide peptidase (SPP) and γ-secretase. In sharp contrast to Rhomboid and SPP that function as a single component, γ-secretase is a multi-component protease with complex assembly, maturation and activation processes. Recently, two low-resolution three-dimensional structures of γ-secretase and three high-resolution structures of the GlpG rhomboid protease have been obtained almost simultaneously by different laboratories. Although these proteases are unrelated by sequence or evolution, they seem to share common functional and structural mechanisms explaining how they catalyze intramembrane proteolysis. Indeed, a water-containing chamber in the catalytic cores of both γ-secretase and GlpG rhomboid provides the hydrophilic environment required for proteolysis and a lateral gating mechanism controls substrate access to the active site. The studies that have identified and characterized the structural determinants critical for the assembly and activity of the γ-secretase complex are reviewed here.

Presenilin is necessary for efficient proteolysis through the autophagy-lysosome system in a γ-secretase-independent manner

Presenilins are ubiquitous, intramembrane proteins that function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as the catalytic component of the γ-secretase complex. Familial AD mutations in presenilin are known to exacerbate lysosomal pathology. Hence, we sought to elucidate the function endogenous, wild-type presenilins play in autophagy-mediated protein degradation. We report the finding that genetic deletion or knockdown of presenilins alters many autophagy-related proteins demonstrating a buildup of autophagosomes, indicative of dysfunction in the system. Presenilin-deficient cells inefficiently clear long-lived proteins and fail to build up autophagosomes when challenged with lysosomal inhibitors. Our studies further show that γ-secretase inhibitors do not adversely impact autophagy, indicating that the role of presenilins in autophagy is independent of γ-secretase activity. Based on our findings, we conclude that endogenous, wild-type presenilins are necessary for proper protein degradation through the autophagosome-lysosome system by functioning at the lysosomal level. The role of presenilins in autophagy has many implications for its function in neurological diseases such as AD.

Following activation of the amyloid cascade, apolipoprotein E4 drives the in vivo oligomerization of amyloid-β resulting in neurodegeneration

According to the amyloid hypothesis, the accumulation of oligomerized amyloid-β (Aβ) is a primary event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The trigger of the amyloid cascade and of Aβ oligomerization in sporadic AD, the most prevalent form of the disease, remains elusive. Here, we examined the hypothesis that apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), the most prevalent genetic risk factor for AD, triggers the accumulation of intraneuronal oligomerized Aβ following activation of the amyloid cascade. We investigated the intracellular organelles that are targeted by these processes and govern their pathological consequences. This revealed that activation of the amyloid cascade in vivo by inhibition of the Aβ degrading enzyme neprilysin specifically results in accumulation of Aβ and oligomerized Aβ and of ApoE4 in the CA1 neurons of ApoE4 mice. This was accompanied by lysosomal and mitochondrial pathology and the co-localization of Aβ, oligomerized Aβ, and ApoE4 with enlarged lysosomes and of Aβ and oligomerized Aβ with mitochondria. The time course of the lysosomal effects paralleled that of the loss of CA1 neurons, whereas the mitochondrial effects reached an earlier plateau. These findings suggest that ApoE4 potentiates the pathological effects of Aβ and the amyloid cascade by triggering the oligomerization of Aβ, which in turn, impairs intraneuronal mitochondria and lysosomes and drives neurodegeneration.

Aβ internalization by neurons and glia

In the brain, the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) exists extracellularly and inside neurons. The intracellular accumulation of Aβ in Alzheimer's disease brain has been questioned for a long time. However, there is now sufficient strong evidence indicating that accumulation of Aβ inside neurons plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Intraneuronal Aβ originates from intracellular cleavage of APP and from Aβ internalization from the extracellular milieu. We discuss here the different molecular mechanisms that are responsible for Aβ internalization in neurons and the links between Aβ internalization and neuronal dysfunction and death. A brief description of Aβ uptake by glia is also presented.

Familial Alzheimer's disease mutations in presenilin 1 do not alter levels of the secreted amyloid-beta protein precursor generated by beta-secretase cleavage

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an insidious and progressive disease with a genetically complex and heterogenous etiology. More than 200 fully penetrant mutations in the amyloid beta-protein precursor (APP), presenilin 1 (or PSEN1), and presenilin 2 (PSEN2) have been linked to early-onset familial AD (FAD). 177 PSEN1 FAD mutations have been identified so far and account for more than approximately 80% of all FAD mutations. All PSEN1 FAD mutations can increase the Abeta42:Abeta40 ratio with seemingly different and incompletely understood mechanisms. A recent study has shown that the 286 amino acid N-terminal fragment of APP (N-APP), a proteolytic product of beta-secretase-derived secreted form of APP (sAPPbeta), could bind the death receptor, DR6, and lead to neurodegeneration. Here we asked whether PSEN1 FAD mutations lead to neurodegeneration by modulating sAPPbeta levels. All four different PSEN1 FAD mutations tested (in three mammalian cell lines) did not alter sAPPbeta levels. Therefore PS1 mutations do not appear to contribute to AD pathogenesis via altered production of sAPPbeta.

Presenilin 1 mutants impair the self-renewal and differentiation of adult murine subventricular zone-neuronal progenitors via cell-autonomous mechanisms involving notch signaling

The vast majority of pedigrees with familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) are caused by inheritance of mutations in the PSEN1 1 gene. While genetic ablation studies have revealed a role for presenilin 1 (PS1) in embryonic neurogenesis, little information has emerged regarding the potential effects of FAD-linked PS1 variants on proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation, key events that control cell fate commitment of adult brain neural progenitors (NPCs). We used adult brain subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived NPC cultures transduced with recombinant lentivirus as a means to investigate the effects of various PS1 mutants on self-renewal and differentiation properties. We now show that viral expression of several PS1 mutants in NPCs leads to impaired self-renewal and altered differentiation toward neuronal lineage, in vitro. In line with these observations, diminished constitutive proliferation and steady-state SVZ progenitor pool size was observed in vivo in transgenic mice expressing the PS1DeltaE9 variant. Moreover, NPC cultures established from the SVZ of adult mice expressing PS1DeltaE9 exhibit reduced self-renewal capacity and premature exit toward neuronal fates. To these findings, we show that both the levels of endogenous Notch/CBF-1-transcriptional activity and transcripts encoding Notch target genes are diminished in SVZ NPCs expressing PS1DeltaE9. The deficits in self-renewal and multipotency are restored by expression of Notch1-ICD or a downstream target of the Notch pathway, Hes1. Hence, we argue that a partial reduction in PS-dependent gamma-secretase processing of the Notch, at least in part, accounts for the impairments observed in SVZ NPCs expressing the FAD-linked PS1DeltaE9 variant.

Aph-1 associates directly with full-length and C-terminal fragments of gamma-secretase substrates

γ-Secretase is a ubiquitous, multiprotein enzyme composed of presenilin, nicastrin, Aph-1, and Pen-2. It mediates the intramembrane proteolysis of many type 1 proteins, plays an essential role in numerous signaling pathways, and helps drive the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease by excising the hydrophobic, aggregation-prone amyloid β-peptide from the β-amyloid precursor protein. A central unresolved question is how its many substrates bind and enter the γ-secretase complex. Here, we provide evidence that both the β-amyloid precursor protein holoprotein and its C-terminal fragments, the immediate substrates of γ-secretase, can associate with Aph-1 at overexpressed as well as endogenous protein levels. This association was observed using bi-directional co-immunoprecipitation in multiple systems and detergent conditions, and an β-amyloid precursor protein-Aph-1 complex was specifically isolated following in situ cross-linking in living cells. In addition, another endogenous canonical γ-substrate, Jagged, showed association of both its full-length and C-terminal fragment forms with Aph-1. We were also able to demonstrate that this interaction with substrates was conserved across the multiple isoforms of Aph-1 (β, αS, and αL), as they were all able to bind β-amyloid precursor protein with similar affinity. Finally, two highly conserved intramembrane histidines (His-171 and His-197) within Aph-1, which were recently shown to be important for γ-secretase activity, are required for efficient binding of substrates. Taken together, our data suggest a dominant role for Aph-1 in interacting with γ-secretase substrates prior to their processing by the proteolytic complex.

Pharmacological analysis of Drosophila melanogaster gamma-secretase with respect to differential proteolysis of Notch and APP

The gamma-secretase aspartyl protease is responsible for the cleavage of numerous type I integral membrane proteins, including amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Notch. APP cleavage contributes to the generation of toxic amyloid beta peptides in Alzheimer's disease, whereas cleavage of the Notch receptor is required for normal physiological signaling between differentiating cells. Mutagenesis studies as well as in vivo analyses of Notch and APP activity in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors indicate that these substrates can be differentially modulated by inhibition of mammalian gamma-secretase, although some biochemical studies instead show nearly identical dose-response inhibitor effects on Notch and APP cleavages. Here, we examine the dose-response effects of several inhibitors on Notch and APP in Drosophila melanogaster cells, which possess a homogeneous form of gamma-secretase. Four different inhibitors that target different domains of gamma-secretase exhibit similar dose-response effects for both substrates, including rank order of inhibitor potencies and effective concentration ranges. For two inhibitors, modest differences in inhibitor dose responses toward Notch and APP were detected, suggesting that inhibitors might be identified that possess some discrimination in their ability to target alternative gamma-secretase substrates. These findings also indicate that despite an overall conservation in inhibitor potencies toward different gamma-secretase substrates, quantitative differences might exist that could be relevant for the development of therapeutically valuable substrate-specific inhibitors.

Cell "self-eating" (autophagy) mechanism in Alzheimer's disease

The autophagy pathway is the major degradation pathway of the cell for long-lived proteins and organelles. Dysfunction of autophagy has been linked to several neurodegenerative disorders that are associated with an accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates. Alzheimer's disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by 2 aggregate forms, tau tangles and amyloid-beta plaques. Autophagy has been linked to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis through its merger with the endosomal-lysosomal system, which has been shown to play a role in the formation of the latter amyloid-beta plaques. However, the precise role of autophagy in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis is still under contention. One hypothesis is that aberrant autophagy induction results in an accumulation of autophagic vacuoles containing amyloid-beta and the components necessary for its generation, whereas other evidence points to impaired autophagic clearance or even an overall reduction in autophagic activity playing a role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the current evidence linking autophagy to Alzheimer's disease as well as the uncertainty over the exact role and level of autophagic regulation in the pathogenic mechanism of Alzheimer's disease.

ER stress in Alzheimer's disease: a novel neuronal trigger for inflammation and Alzheimer's pathology

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in several crucial cellular functions, e.g. protein folding and quality control, maintenance of Ca²⁺ balance, and cholesterol synthesis. Many genetic and environmental insults can disturb the function of ER and induce ER stress. ER contains three branches of stress sensors, i.e. IRE1, PERK and ATF6 transducers, which recognize the misfolding of proteins in ER and activate a complex signaling network to generate the unfolded protein response (UPR). Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving misfolding and aggregation of proteins in conjunction with prolonged cellular stress, e.g. in redox regulation and Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Emerging evidence indicates that the UPR is activated in neurons but not in glial cells in AD brains. Neurons display pPERK, peIF2α and pIRE1α immunostaining along with abundant diffuse staining of phosphorylated tau protein. Recent studies have demonstrated that ER stress can also induce an inflammatory response via different UPR transducers. The most potent pathways are IRE1-TRAF2, PERK-eIF2α, PERK-GSK-3, ATF6-CREBH, as well as inflammatory caspase-induced signaling pathways. We will describe the mechanisms which could link the ER stress of neurons to the activation of the inflammatory response and the evolution of pathological changes in AD.

Reduced amyloid deposition in mice overexpressing RTN3 is adversely affected by preformed dystrophic neurites

Reticulon 3 (RTN3) was initially identified as a negative modulator of BACE1, an enzyme that cleaves amyloid precursor protein (APP) to release beta-amyloid peptide. Interestingly, RTN3 can also form aggregates after accumulation, and increased RTN3 aggregation correlates with the formation of RTN3 immunoreactive dystrophic neurites (RIDNs) in brains of Alzheimer's cases. Transgenic mice expressing RTN3 alone develop RIDNs in their hippocampus but not in their cortex. To determine the in vivo effects of RTN3 and preformed RIDNs on amyloid deposition, we crossed bitransgenic mice expressing APP and presenilin 1 (PS1) mutations with mice overexpressing RTN3. We found that amyloid deposition in cortex, the hippocampal CA3 region, and dentate gyrus was significantly reduced in triple transgenic mice compared with bitransgenic controls. However, reduction of amyloid deposition in the hippocampal CA1 region, where RIDNs predominantly formed before amyloid deposition, was less significant. Hence, preformed RTN3 aggregates in RIDNs clearly offset the negative modulation of BACE1 activity by RTN3. Furthermore, our study indicates that the increased expression of RTN3 could result in an alteration of BACE1 intracellular trafficking by retaining more BACE1 in the endoplasmic reticulum compartment where cleavage of APP by BACE1 is less favored. Our results suggest that inhibition of RTN3 aggregation is likely to be beneficial by reducing both amyloid deposition and the formation RIDNs.

Overexpression of SOD-2 reduces hippocampal superoxide and prevents memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by impaired cognitive function and the deposition of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular tangles. Although the proximal cause of AD is not well understood, it is clear that amyloid-beta (Abeta) plays a critical role in AD pathology. Recent studies also implicate mitochondrial abnormalities in AD. We investigated this idea by crossing mice that overexpress mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD-2) with the Tg2576 mouse model of AD that overexpresses the human amyloid precursor protein carrying the Swedish mutation (K670N:M671L). We found that overexpression of SOD-2 decreased hippocampal superoxide, prevented AD-related learning and memory deficits, and reduced Abeta plaques. Interestingly, SOD-2 overexpression did not affect the absolute levels of Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42), but did significantly reduce the Abeta(1-42) to Abeta(1-40) ratio, thereby shifting the balance toward a less amyloidogenic Abeta composition. These findings directly link mitochondrial superoxide to AD pathology and demonstrate the beneficial effects of a mitochondrial anti-oxidant enzyme, hence offering significant therapeutic implications for AD.

Expression of reticulon 3 in Alzheimer's disease brain

AIMS

Reticulon 3 (RTN3), a member of the reticulon family of proteins, interacts with the beta-secretase, beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), and inhibits its activity to produce beta-amyloid protein. The aim of the present study was to clarify the biological role of RTN3 in the brain and its potential involvement in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

We performed immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses using a specific antibody against RTN3 to investigate the expression and subcellular localization of RTN3 in control and AD brain tissue samples.

RESULTS

Western blot analysis revealed no significant differences in the RTN3 levels between control and AD brains. Immunohistochemical staining showed that RTN3 immunoreactivity was predominantly localized in pyramidal neurones of the cerebral cortex. The patterns of RTN3 immunostaining were similar in control and AD cerebral cortices, and senile plaques were generally negative for RTN3. Biochemical subcellular fractionation disclosed that RTN3 colocalized with BACE1 in various fractions, including the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Double-immunofluorescence staining additionally indicated that RTN3 was localized in both endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartments in neurones.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that RTN3 is primarily expressed in pyramidal neurones of the human cerebral cortex and that no clear difference of RTN3 immunoreactivity is observable between control and AD brains. Our data also suggest that there is considerable colocalization of RTN3 with BACE1 at a subcellular level.

Increase in presenilin 1 (PS1) levels in senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8) may indirectly impair memory by affecting amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing

Senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8) serve as a model for Alzheimer's disease (AD) as they exhibit early loss of memory and increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression. APP is a ubiquitous membrane protein that is physiologically processed by site-specific proteolysis firstly by alpha- or beta-secretases, releasing a large fragment called APP(S) that contains most of the extracellular sequences of APP, a small extracellular stub, the transmembrane region and the cytoplasmic tail of APP (;AICD'-APP intracellular domain). These are subsequently cleaved by gamma-secretase at multiple sites in the transmembrane region, releasing small peptides, Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42), the major components of AD-associated amyloid fibrils. gamma-secretase is a high-molecular-mass complex composed of presenilin-1 (PS1), nicastrin, APH-1 and Pen-2. As PS1 has been shown to play a critical role in facilitating gamma-secretase activity, and mutations in this protein are associated with familial AD (FAD), we have cloned it from SAMP8 mouse hippocampus and compared its sequence with those of other species. Furthermore, changes in the expression of PS1 with age in the hippocampal tissue of SAMP8 were studied. The results showed that the SAMP8 PS1 cDNA sequence is identical to that of normal mice. However, its expression in the hippocampus of SAMP8 exhibited an increase, while CD-1 mice, a strain that does not exhibit premature memory loss, showed no change with age. An increased amount or mutation(s) in PS1, which alters the stoichiometric balance of the gamma-secretase complex, may be the cause of aberrant or increased processing of APP, resulting in Abeta accumulation leading to loss of memory.

Activation-dependent stabilization of the human thromboxane receptor: role of reactive oxygen species

Thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)), the principle product of platelet COX-1-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism, directs multiple pro-atherogenic processes via its receptor, TP. Oxidative challenge offsets TP degradation, a key component in limiting TxA(2)'s actions. Following TP activation, we observed cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation coincident with increased TP expression. We examined the link between TP-evoked ROS and TP regulation. TP expression was augmented in TPalpha-transfected cells treated with a TxA(2) analog [1S-1alpha,2beta(5Z),3alpha(1E,3R*),4alpha]]-7-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-(4'-iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl)-7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]-5-heptenoic acid (IBOP). This was reduced with a cellular antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine, or two distinct NADPH oxidase inhibitors, diphenyleneiodonium and apocynin. Homologous upregulation of the native TP was also reduced in apocynin-treated aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and was absent in ASMCs lacking an NADPH oxidase subunit (p47(-/-)). TP transcription was not increased in IBOP-treated cells, indicating a posttranscriptional mechanism. IBOP induced translocation of TPalpha to the Golgi and reduced degradation of the immature form of the receptor. These data are consistent with a ROS-dependent mechanism whereby TP activation enhanced TP stability early in posttranscriptional biogenesis. Given the significant role played by TP and ROS in perturbed cardiovascular function, the convergence of TP on ROS-generating pathways for regulation of TxA(2)-dependent events may be critical for cardiovascular disease.

Substrate specificity of gamma-secretase and other intramembrane proteases

Gamma-Secretase is a promiscuous protease that cleaves bitopic membrane proteins within the lipid bilayer. Elucidating both the mechanistic basis of gamma-secretase proteolysis and the precise factors regulating substrate identification is important because modulation of this biochemical degradative process can have important consequences in a physiological and pathophysiological context. Here, we briefly review such information for all major classes of intramembranously cleaving proteases (I-CLiPs), with an emphasis on gamma-secretase, an I-CLiP closely linked to the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. A large body of emerging data allows us to survey the substrates of gamma-secretase to ascertain the conformational features that predispose a peptide to cleavage by this enigmatic protease. Because substrate specificity in vivo is closely linked to the relative subcellular compartmentalization of gamma-secretase and its substrates, we also survey the voluminous body of literature concerning the traffic of gamma-secretase and its most prominent substrate, the amyloid precursor protein.

SOD1 mutations disrupt redox-sensitive Rac regulation of NADPH oxidase in a familial ALS model

Neurodegeneration in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with enhanced redox stress caused by dominant mutations in superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1). SOD1 is a cytosolic enzyme that facilitates the conversion of superoxide (O(2)(*-)) to H(2)O(2). Here we demonstrate that SOD1 is not just a catabolic enzyme, but can also directly regulate NADPH oxidase-dependent (Nox-dependent) O(2)(*-) production by binding Rac1 and inhibiting its GTPase activity. Oxidation of Rac1 by H(2)O(2) uncoupled SOD1 binding in a reversible fashion, producing a self-regulating redox sensor for Nox-derived O(2)(*-) production. This process of redox-sensitive uncoupling of SOD1 from Rac1 was defective in SOD1 ALS mutants, leading to enhanced Rac1/Nox activation in transgenic mouse tissues and cell lines expressing ALS SOD1 mutants. Glial cell toxicity associated with expression of SOD1 mutants in culture was significantly attenuated by treatment with the Nox inhibitor apocynin. Treatment of ALS mice with apocynin also significantly increased their average life span. This redox sensor mechanism may explain the gain-of-function seen with certain SOD1 mutations associated with ALS and defines new therapeutic targets.

Independent inhibition of Alzheimer disease beta- and gamma-secretase cleavage by lowered cholesterol levels

The major molecular risk factor for Alzheimer disease so far identified is the amyloidogenic peptide Abeta(42). In addition, growing evidence suggests a role of cholesterol in Alzheimer disease pathology and Abeta generation. However, the cellular mechanism of lipid-dependent Abeta production remains unclear. Here we describe that the two enzymatic activities responsible for Abeta production, beta-secretase and gamma-secretase, are inhibited in parallel by cholesterol reduction. Importantly, our data indicate that cholesterol depletion within the cellular context inhibits both secretases additively and independently from each other. This is unexpected because the beta-secretase beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme and the presenilin-containing gamma-secretase complex are structurally different from each other, and these enzymes are apparently located in different subcellular compartments. The parallel and additive inhibition has obvious consequences for therapeutic research and may indicate an intrinsic cross-talk between Alzheimer disease-related amyloid precursor protein processing, amyloid precursor protein function, and lipid biology.

Novel role of presenilins in maturation and transport of integrin beta 1

Presenilins (PSs) play important roles in modulating the trafficking and maturation of several membrane proteins. However, the target membrane proteins whose trafficking and maturation are regulated by PS are largely unknown. By characterizing PS-deficient fibroblasts, we found that integrin beta1 maturation is promoted markedly in PS1 and PS2 double-deficient fibroblasts and moderately in PS1- or PS2-deficient fibroblasts; in contrast, nicastrin maturation is completely inhibited in PS1 and PS2 double-deficient fibroblasts. Subcellular fractionation analysis demonstrated that integrin beta1 maturation is promoted in the Golgi apparatus. The mature integrin beta1 with an increased expression level was delivered to the cell surface, which resulted in an increased cell surface expression level of mature integrin beta1 in PS1 and PS2 double-deficient fibroblasts. PS1 and PS2 double-deficient fibroblasts exhibited an enhanced ability to adhere to culture dishes coated with integrin beta1 ligands, namely, fibronectin and laminin. The inhibition of gamma-secretase activity enhances neither integrin beta1 maturation nor the adhesion of wild-type cells. Moreover, PS deficiency also promoted the maturation of integrins alpha3 and alpha5 and the cell surface expression of integrin alpha3. Integrins alpha3 and alpha5 were coimmunoprecipitated with integrin beta1, suggesting the formation of the functional heterodimers integrins alpha3beta1 and alpha5beta1. Note that integrin beta1 exhibited features opposite those of nicastrin in terms of maturation and trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus in PS1 and PS2 double-deficient fibroblasts. Our results therefore suggest that PS regulates the maturation of membrane proteins in opposite directions and cell adhesion by modulating integrin maturation.

Inhibition of gamma-secretase causes increased secretion of amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragments in association with exosomes

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is associated with the deposition of the 39- to 43-amino acid beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) in the brain. C-terminal fragments (CTFs) of amyloid precursor protein (APP) can accumulate in endosomally derived multivesicular bodies (MVBs). These intracellular structures contain intraluminal vesicles that are released from the cell as exosomes when the MVB fuses with the plasma membrane. Here we have investigated the role of exosomes in the processing of APP and show that these vesicles contain APP-CTFs, as well as Abeta. In addition, inhibition of gamma-secretase results in a significant increase in the amount of alpha- and beta-secretase cleavage, further increasing the amount of APP-CTFs contained within these exosomes. We identify several key members of the secretase family of proteases (BACE, PS1, PS2, and ADAM10) to be localized in exosomes, suggesting they may be a previously unidentified site of APP cleavage. These results provide further evidence for a novel pathway in which APP fragments are released from cells and have implications for the analysis of APP processing and diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease.

Internalization of beta-amyloid peptide by primary neurons in the absence of apolipoprotein E

Extracellular accumulation of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) has been linked to the development of Alzheimer disease. The importance of intraneuronal Abeta has been recognized more recently. Although considerable evidence indicates that extracellular Abeta contributes to the intracellular pool of Abeta, the mechanisms involved in Abeta uptake by neurons are poorly understood. We examined the molecular mechanisms involved in Abeta-(1-42) internalization by primary neurons in the absence of apolipoprotein E. We demonstrated that Abeta-(1-42) is more efficiently internalized by axons than by cell bodies of sympathetic neurons, suggesting that Abeta-(1-42) uptake might be mediated by proteins enriched in the axons. Although the acetylcholine receptor alpha7nAChR, previously suggested to be involved in Abeta internalization, is enriched in axons, our results indicate that it does not mediate Abeta-(1-42) internalization. Moreover, receptors of the low density lipoprotein receptor family are not essential for Abeta-(1-42) uptake in the absence of apolipoprotein E because receptor-associated protein had no effect on Abeta uptake. By expressing the inactive dynamin mutant dynK44A and the clathrin hub we found that Abeta-(1-42) internalization is independent of clathrin but dependent on dynamin, which suggests an endocytic pathway involving caveolae/lipid rafts. Confocal microscopy studies showing that Abeta did not co-localize with the early endosome marker EEA1 further support a clathrin-independent mechanism. The lack of co-localization of Abeta with caveolin in intracellular vesicles and the normal uptake of Abeta by neurons that do not express caveolin indicate that Abeta does not require caveolin either. Instead partial co-localization of Abeta-(1-42) with cholera toxin subunit B and sensitivity to reduction of cellular cholesterol and sphingolipid levels suggest a caveolae-independent, raft-mediated mechanism. Understanding the molecular events involved in neuronal Abeta internalization might identify potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer disease.

Association of the astrovirus structural protein VP90 with membranes plays a role in virus morphogenesis

VP90, the capsid polyprotein precursor of human astrovirus Yuc8, is assembled into viral particles, and its processing at the carboxy terminus by cellular caspases, to yield VP70, has been correlated with the cell release of the virus. Here, we characterized the effect of the VP90-VP70 processing on the properties of these proteins, as well as on their intracellular distribution. VP90 was found in membrane-enriched fractions (mVP90), as well as in fractions enriched in cytosolic proteins (cVP90), while VP70 was found exclusively in the latter fractions. Upon trypsin activation, infectivity was detected in all VP90-containing fractions, confirming that both mVP90 and cVP90 are able to assemble into particles; however, the two forms of VP90 showed differential sensitivities to trypsin, especially at their carboxy termini, which in the case of mVP90 was shown to remain membrane associated after protease digestion. Structural protein oligomers were detected in purified VP70-containing viruses, as well as in membrane-enriched fractions, but they were less evident in cytosolic fractions. Ultrastructural studies of infected cells revealed different types of viral particles, some of which appeared to be associated with membranes. By immunoelectron microscopy, structural proteins were shown to form virus particles in clusters and to associate with the edges of vesicles induced during infection, which also appear to contain subviral particles inside. Nonstructural proteins and viral RNA colocalized with mVP90, but not with cVP90, suggesting that mVP90 might represent the form of the protein that is initially assembled into particles, at the sites where the virus genome is being replicated.

Amyloid‐beta reduction by memapsin 2 (beta‐secretase) immunization

Memapsin 2 (beta-secretase, BACE1) is the protease that initiates cleavage of beta-amyloid precursor protein leading to the production of amyloid-beta (Abeta) and the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reducing Abeta by targeting memapsin 2 is a major strategy in developing new AD therapy. Here, in a proof-of-concept study, we show that immunization of transgenic AD mice (Tg2576) with memapsin 2 resulted in Abeta reduction and cognitive improvement. To study the basis of this therapy, we demonstrated that anti-memapsin 2 (anti-M2) antibodies were rapidly internalized and reduced Abeta production in cultured cells. These antibodies also effectively crossed the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain. Two- and 10-month Tg2576 mice were immunized and monitored over 10 and 6 months, respectively. We observed a significant decrease of plasma and brain Abeta40 and Abeta42 (approximately 35%) in the immunized mice as compared to controls. Immunized mice also showed better cognitive performance than controls in both cohorts. Brain histological analyses found no evidence of T cell/microglia/astrocyte activation in the immunized mice, suggesting the absence of inflammatory responses. These results suggest that memapsin 2 immunization in Tg2576 was effective in reducing Abeta production and improving cognitive function and that the current approach warrants further investigation as a therapy for AD.

Structure nor stability of the transmembrane spanning 6/7 domain of presenilin I correlates with pathogenicity

Since its cloning in 1995, missense point mutations in presenilin I (PS-I) have been shown to be responsible for greater than 70% of the cases of early onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EOFAD), which can affect individuals as early as age 18. PS-I is known to be a component of gamma-secretase, the enzyme responsible for cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) into 42 amino acid peptides that aggregate to form the plaques surrounding neurons of Alzheimer's patients. It has recently been hypothesized that wild-type (wt) PS-I contains an autoinhibitory module that prevents gamma-secretase cleavage of the APP, while pathogenic PS-I point mutants lack a structure necessary for this inhibition. In this work, spectroscopic data is presented that does not correlate structure or stability of the proposed PS-I autoinhibitory module with pathogenicity.