Identification of novel γ-secretase-associated proteins in detergent-resistant membranes from brain

J Biol Chem. 2012 Apr 6;287(15):11991-2005. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.246074. Epub 2012 Feb 7.

Abstract

In Alzheimer disease, oligomeric amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) species lead to synapse loss and neuronal death. γ-Secretase, the transmembrane protease complex that mediates the final catalytic step that liberates Aβ from its precursor protein (APP), has a multitude of substrates, and therapeutics aimed at reducing Aβ production should ideally be specific for APP cleavage. It has been shown that APP can be processed in lipid rafts, and γ-secretase-associated proteins can affect Aβ production. Here, we use a biotinylated inhibitor for affinity purification of γ-secretase and associated proteins and mass spectrometry for identification of the purified proteins, and we identify novel γ-secretase-associated proteins in detergent-resistant membranes from brain. Furthermore, we show by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of gene expression that a subset of the γ-secretase-associated proteins, in particular voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) and contactin-associated protein 1 (CNTNAP1), reduced Aβ production (Aβ40 and Aβ42) by around 70%, whereas knockdown of presenilin 1, one of the essential γ-secretase complex components, reduced Aβ production by 50%. Importantly, these proteins had a less pronounced effect on Notch processing. We conclude that VDAC1 and CNTNAP1 associate with γ-secretase in detergent-resistant membranes and affect APP processing and suggest that molecules that interfere with this interaction could be of therapeutic use for Alzheimer disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / isolation & purification
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Membrane Microdomains / ultrastructure
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Presenilin-1 / genetics
  • Presenilin-1 / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Syntaxin 1 / chemistry
  • Syntaxin 1 / metabolism
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 / genetics
  • Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • CNTNAP1 protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • PSEN1 protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Presenilin-1
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Syntaxin 1
  • Tmed10 protein, rat
  • VDAC1 protein, human
  • nicastrin protein
  • Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases