?-arrestin1 regulates ?-secretase complex assembly and modulates amyloid-? pathology.

ABSTRACT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and complex neurodegenerative disease in which the ?-secretase-mediated amyloid-? (A?) pathology plays an important role. We found that a multifunctional protein, ?-arrestin1, facilitated the formation of NCT/APH-1 (anterior pharynx-defective phenotype 1) precomplex and mature ?-secretase complex through its functional interaction with APH-1. Deficiency of ?-arrestin1 or inhibition of binding of ?-arrestin1 with APH-1 by small peptides reduced A? production without affecting Notch processing. Genetic ablation of ?-arrestin1 diminished A? pathology and behavioral deficits in transgenic AD mice. Moreover, in brains of sporadic AD patients and transgenic AD mice, the expression of ?-arrestin1 was upregulated and correlated well with neuropathological severity and senile A? plaques. Thus, our study identifies a regulatory mechanism underlying both ?-secretase assembly and AD pathogenesis, and indicates that specific reduction of A? pathology can be achieved by regulation of the ?-secretase assembly.

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3587707 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature