Deficiency of Aph1B/C-gamma-secretase disturbs Nrg1 cleavage and sensorimotor gating that can be reversed with antipsychotic treatment

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jul 15;105(28):9775-80. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800507105. Epub 2008 Jul 14.

Abstract

Regulated intramembrane proteolysis by gamma-secretase cleaves proteins in their transmembrane domain and is involved in important signaling pathways. At least four different gamma-secretase complexes have been identified, but little is known about their biological role and specificity. Previous work has demonstrated the involvement of the Aph1A-gamma-secretase complex in Notch signaling, but no specific function could be assigned to Aph1B/C-gamma-secretase. We demonstrate here that the Aph1B/C-gamma-secretase complex is expressed in brain areas relevant to schizophrenia pathogenesis and that Aph1B/C deficiency causes pharmacological and behavioral abnormalities that can be reversed by antipsychotic drugs. At the molecular level we find accumulation of Nrg1 fragments in the brain of Aph1BC(-/-) mice. Our observations gain clinical relevance by the demonstration that a Val-to-Leu mutation in the Nrg1 transmembrane domain, associated with increased risk for schizophrenia, affects gamma-secretase cleavage of Nrg1. This finding suggests that dysregulation of intramembrane proteolysis of Nrg1 could increase risk for schizophrenia and related disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / deficiency*
  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Endopeptidases / deficiency*
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / etiology*
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation, Missense / physiology
  • Neuregulin-1 / metabolism*
  • Protein Subunits / deficiency*
  • Schizophrenia / etiology

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neuregulin-1
  • Protein Subunits
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Endopeptidases
  • Aph1C protein, mouse
  • Aph1b protein, mouse