
Amyloid beta peptides (Aβs) are generated from amyloid precursor protein (APP) through multiple cleavage steps mediated by γ-secretase, including endoproteolysis and carboxypeptidase-like trimming. The generation of neurotoxic Aβ42/43 species is enhanced by familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) mutations within the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, presenilin 1 (PS1). FAD mutations of PS1 cause partial loss-of-function and decrease the cleavage activity. Activating mutations, which have the opposite effect of FAD mutations, are important for studying Aβ production. Aph1 is a regulatory subunit of γ-secretase; it is presumed to function as a scaffold of the complex. In this study, we identified Aph1 mutations that are active in the absence of nicastrin (NCT) using a yeast γ-secretase assay. We analyzed these Aph1 mutations in the presence of NCT; we found that the L30F/T164A mutation is activating. When introduced in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, the mutation enhanced cleavage. The Aph1 mutants produced more short and long Aβs than did the wild-type Aph1, without an apparent modulatory function. The mutants did not change the amount of γ-secretase complex, suggesting that L30F/T164A enhances catalytic activity. Our results provide insights into the regulatory function of Aph1 in γ-secretase activity.
Amyloid beta-Peptides, Membrane Glycoproteins, Membrane Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Fibroblasts, Article, Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor, Mice, Alzheimer Disease, Alzheimer’s disease; amyloid beta (Aβ); gamma-secretase; Aph1; intramembrane proteolysis; <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, Catalytic Domain, Endopeptidases, Mutation, Proteolysis, Presenilin-1, Animals, Humans, Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
Amyloid beta-Peptides, Membrane Glycoproteins, Membrane Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Fibroblasts, Article, Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor, Mice, Alzheimer Disease, Alzheimer’s disease; amyloid beta (Aβ); gamma-secretase; Aph1; intramembrane proteolysis; <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, Catalytic Domain, Endopeptidases, Mutation, Proteolysis, Presenilin-1, Animals, Humans, Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
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