Neuronal Aβ42 is enriched in small vesicles at the presynaptic side of synapses.

ABSTRACT: The amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is a physiological ubiquitously expressed peptide suggested to be involved in synaptic function, long-term potentiation, and memory function. The 42 amino acid-long variant (Aβ42) forms neurotoxic oligomers and amyloid plaques and plays a key role in the loss of synapses and other pathogenic events of Alzheimer disease. Still, the exact localization of Aβ42 in neurons and at synapses has not been reported. Here, we used super-resolution microscopy and show that Aβ42 was present in small vesicles in presynaptic compartments, but not in postsynaptic compartments, in the neurites of hippocampal neurons. Some of these vesicles appeared to lack synaptophysin, indicating that they differ from the synaptic vesicles responsible for neurotransmitter release. The Aβ42-cont

SUBMITTER: Yu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6238618 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature