12.02.2013 Views

New Modes of GPCR Signalling

New Modes of GPCR Signalling

New Modes of GPCR Signalling

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

ABSTRACT<br />

From Bench to Bedside:<br />

BACE1, the Beta-Secretase Enzyme, in Basic Science and Clinical<br />

Investigation<br />

Yong Shen<br />

Robert Haldeman Laboratory <strong>of</strong> Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology<br />

Banner Sun Health Research Institute<br />

β-Secretase, or β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), has been<br />

identified as the rate-limiting enzyme for amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide production that<br />

occurs primarily in neurons in the brain. Aβis the main component <strong>of</strong> amyloid plaques<br />

and vascular deposits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, and it is believed to initiate<br />

the deadly amyloid cascade that leads to neurodegeneration and dementia. BACE1 is<br />

the principle beta-secretase, as its knock-out completely prevents Aβ generation.<br />

BACE1 is likely to process a number <strong>of</strong> different substrates, and consequently, it may<br />

exert several independent physiological functions in neurons. Currently, however, the<br />

physiological functions <strong>of</strong> BACE1 are not clear. Multiple cellular mechanisms for<br />

BACE1 regulation, including transcriptional regulation, neuronal excitability, receptor<br />

mediation, and identification <strong>of</strong> new molecules as biomarkers for AD and molecular<br />

targeting for Aβ lowering therapies will be discussed.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!