Generation of aggregation prone N-terminally truncated amyloid β peptides by meprin β depends on the sequence specificity at the cleavage site
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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.
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Molecular neurodegeneration, 11, BioMed Central, London, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-016-0084-5