SECRETASE IN THE DISEASE OF ALZHEIMER.

摘要

A method for identifying an agent that modulates the activity of a protease involved in the processing of amyloid precursor protein (PPA) in beta amyloid, comprising the steps of (a) contacting the purified protease and a substrate of the PPA thereof comprising a beta amyloid processing site in the presence and absence of a test agent, wherein the protease (i) comprises a fragment of SEQ ID No. 4 or SEQ ID No. 6, which includes DTG and DSG; or (ii) is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes with the complement of SEQ ID NO: 5 under the following strict hybridization conditions: (1) hybridize at 42 ° C for approximately 2.5 hours 6xSCC and 0.1% SDS, and (2) wash at 65 ° C in 1xSCC and 0.1% SDS, and (b) determine and compare the respective processing activities of the protease PPA in the presence and absence of the test agent, wherein an agent that is a Asp2 inhibitor reduces the processing activity of PPA and an agent that is an Asp2 agonist increases such activity.