An alternative spliced mouse presenilin-2 mRNA encodes a novel gamma-secretase inhibitor

FEBS Lett. 2009 May 6;583(9):1403-8. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.04.014. Epub 2009 Apr 17.

Abstract

The gamma-secretase, composed of presenilin-1 (PS1) or presenilin-2 (PS2), nicastrin (NCT), anterior pharynx-defective phenotype 1 (APH-1), and PEN-2, is critical for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). PSs are autoproteolytically cleaved, producing an N-terminal fragment (NTF) and a hydrophilic loop domain-containing C-terminal fragment. However, the role of the loop domain in the gamma-secretase complex assembly remains unknown. Here, we report a novel PS2 isoform generated by alternative splicing, named PS2beta, which is composed of an NTF with a hydrophilic loop domain. PS2beta disturbed the interaction between NCT and APH-1, resulting in the inhibition of amyloid-beta production. We concluded that PS2beta may inhibit gamma-secretase activity by affecting the gamma-secretase complex assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Enzyme Inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Presenilin-2 / chemistry
  • Presenilin-2 / genetics
  • Presenilin-2 / physiology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Presenilin-2
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases