Researchers uncover function of key Alzheimer's enzyme.

摘要

Cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the enzyme BACEi is essential forthe formation of amyloid-p peptide-the main constituent of plaques in Alzheimer's disease-and many pharmaceutical companies are actively trying to develop drugs that target BACEI function. However, the physiological function of BACEI, aside from its role in APP cleavage, is unclear, which means that any potential side-effects of BACEI inhibitors are a mystery.In a new study, an international team of researchers reports that BACEI is involved in the myelination of peripheral neurons. Michael Willem (Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich, Germany) and co-workers found that BACEI expression in mice was greatest during the early postnatal stages-the period when myelin formation occurs. Expression fell in the second postnatal week and declined to low levels in adult mice.They also found that BACEI was co-expressed with type III neuregulinl-a protein that is known to control myelination-in neurons that projected to the periphery.