Authors: Zhang, Yun-wu; Xu, Huaxi

Source: Current Molecular Medicine, Volume 7, Number 7, November 2007 , pp. 687-696(10)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease associated with aging. One important pathologic feature of AD is the formation of extracellular senile plaques in the brain, whose major components are small peptides called β-amyloid (Aβ) that are derived from β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) through sequential cleavages by β-secretase and γ-secretase. Because of the critical role of Aβ in the pathogenesis of AD, unraveling the cellular and molecular events underlying APP/Aβ metabolism has been and remains, of paramount importance to AD research. In this article we will focus on the regulation of APP metabolism leading to Aβ generation. We will review current knowledge of the secretases (α-, β-, and γ- secretases) involved in APP processing and various molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying intracellular trafficking of APP, which is a highly regulated process and whose disturbance has direct impacts on the production of Aβ.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; β-amyloid; β-amyloid precursor protein; metabolism; α-secretase; β-secretase; γ-secretase; trafficking

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652407782564462

Publication date: 2007-11-01

More about this publication?

• Current Molecular Medicine is an interdisciplinary journal focused on providing the readership with current and comprehensive reviews on fundamental molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, the development of molecular-diagnosis and/or novel approaches to rational treatment. The reviews should be of significant interest to basic researchers and clinical investigators in molecular medicine. Periodically the journal will invite guest editors to devote an issue on a basic research area that shows promise to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of a disease or has potential for clinical applications.

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