An alternative spliced mouse presenilin-2 mRNA encodes a novel γ-secretase inhibitor

Abstract 

The γ-secretase, composed of presenilin-1 (PS1) or presenilin-2 (PS2), nicastrin (NCT), anterior pharynx-defective phenotype 1 (APH-1), and PEN-2, is critical for the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). PSs are autoproteolytically cleaved, producing an N-terminal fragment (NTF) and a hydrophilic loop domain-containing C-terminal fragment. However, the role of the loop domain in the γ-secretase complex assembly remains unknown. Here, we report a novel PS2 isoform generated by alternative splicing, named PS2β, which is composed of an NTF with a hydrophilic loop domain. PS2β disturbed the interaction between NCT and APH-1, resulting in the inhibition of amyloid-β production. We concluded that PS2β may inhibit γ-secretase activity by affecting the γ-secretase complex assembly.

Structured summary

MINT-7025654: APH1 (uniprotkb:Q96BI3) physically interacts (MI:0218) with PEN2 (uniprotkb:Q9NZ42), PS2 beta (uniprotkb:Q61144-2) and PS1 (uniprotkb:P49769) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)

MINT-7025631: APH1 (uniprotkb:Q96BI3) physically interacts (MI:0218) with NCT (uniprotkb:Q92542), PEN2 (uniprotkb:Q9NZ42) and PS1 (uniprotkb:P49769) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)

Abbreviations: PS, presenilin, PEN-2, presenilin enhancer 2, APH-1, anterior pharynx-defective phenotype 1, NCT, nicastrin, CHAPS, 3-cholamidopropyl dimethylammonio propanesulfonic acid, mRFP, monomeric red fluorescence protein

Keywords: Presenilin, Alternative splicing, γ-Secretase, Amyloid-β, Nicastrin, Alzheimer’s disease