Aβ42 Overproduction Associated with Structural Changes in the Catalytic Pore of γ-Secretase

Abstract

gamma-Secretase is an atypical aspartyl protease that cleaves amyloid beta-precursor protein to generate Abeta peptides that are causative for Alzheimer disease. gamma-Secretase is a multimeric membrane protein complex composed of presenilin (PS), nicastrin, Aph-1, and Pen-2. Pen-2 directly binds to transmembrane domain 4 of PS and confers proteolytic activity on gamma-secretase, although the mechanism of activation and its role in catalysis remain unknown. Here we show that an addition of amino acid residues to the N terminus of Pen-2 specifically increases the generation of Abeta42, the longer and more aggregable species of Abeta. The effect of the N-terminal elongation of Pen-2 on Abeta42 generation was independent of the amino acid sequences, the expression system and the presenilin species. In vitro gamma-secretase assay revealed that Pen-2 directly affects the Abeta42-generating activity of gamma-secretase. The elongation of Pen-2 N terminus caused a reduction in the water accessibility of the luminal side of the catalytic pore of PS1 in a similar manner to that caused by an Abeta42-raising gamma-secretase modulator, fenofibrate, as determined by substituted cysteine accessibility method. These data suggest a unique mechanism of Abeta42 overproduction associated with structural changes in the catalytic pore of presenilins caused commonly by the N-terminal elongation of Pen-2 and fenofibrate.