Substrate ectodomain is critical for substrate preference and inhibition of ?-secretase.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the substrate recognition mechanism of ?-secretase is a key step for establishing substrate-specific inhibition of amyloid ?-protein (A?) production. However, it is widely believed that ?-secretase is a promiscuous protease and that its substrate-specific inhibition is elusive. Here we show that ?-secretase distinguishes the ectodomain length of substrates and preferentially captures and cleaves substrates containing a short ectodomain. We also show that a subset of peptides containing the CDCYCxxxxCxCxSC motif binds to the amino terminus of C99 and inhibits A? production in a substrate-specific manner. Interestingly, these peptides suppress ?-secretase-dependent cleavage of APP, but not that of sialyltransferase 1. Most importantly, intraperitoneal administration of peptides into mice results in a significant reduction in cerebral A? levels. This report provides direct evidence of the substrate preference of ?-secretase and its mechanism. Our results demonstrate that the ectodomain of C99 is a potent target for substrate-specific anti-A? therapeutics to combat Alzheimer's disease.

SUBMITTER: Funamoto S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3826621 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature