Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2016 | Research article
Generation of aggregation prone N-terminally truncated amyloid β peptides by meprin β depends on the sequence specificity at the cleavage site
Authors:
Caroline Schönherr, Jessica Bien, Simone Isbert, Rielana Wichert, Johannes Prox, Hermann Altmeppen, Sathish Kumar, Jochen Walter, Stefan F. Lichtenthaler, Sascha Weggen, Markus Glatzel, Christoph Becker-Pauly, Claus U. Pietrzik
Published in:
Molecular Neurodegeneration
|
Issue 1/2016
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Abstract
Background
The metalloprotease meprin β cleaves the Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) relevant amyloid precursor protein (APP) as a β-secretase reminiscent of BACE-1, however, predominantly generating N-terminally truncated Aβ2-x variants.
Results
Herein, we observed increased endogenous sAPPα levels in the brains of meprin β knock-out (ko) mice compared to wild-type controls. We further analyzed the cellular interaction of APP and meprin β and found that cleavage of APP by meprin β occurs prior to endocytosis. The N-terminally truncated Aβ2-40 variant shows increased aggregation propensity compared to Aβ1-40 and acts even as a seed for Aβ1-40 aggregation. Additionally, we observed that different APP mutants affect the catalytic properties of meprin β and that, interestingly, meprin β is unable to generate N-terminally truncated Aβ peptides from Swedish mutant APP (APPswe).
Conclusion
Concluding, we propose that meprin β may be involved in the generation of N-terminally truncated Aβ2-x peptides of APP, but acts independently from BACE-1.