The role of γ-secretase activating protein (GSAP) and imatinib in the regulation of γ-secretase activity and amyloid-β generation

J Biol Chem. 2013 Jan 25;288(4):2521-31. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.370924. Epub 2012 Dec 3.

Abstract

γ-Secretase is a large enzyme complex comprising presenilin, nicastrin, presenilin enhancer 2, and anterior pharynx-defective 1 that mediates the intramembrane proteolysis of a large number of proteins including amyloid precursor protein and Notch. Recently, a novel γ-secretase activating protein (GSAP) was identified that interacts with γ-secretase and the C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein to selectively increase amyloid-β production. In this study we have further characterized the role of endogenous and exogenous GSAP in the regulation of γ-secretase activity and amyloid-β production in vitro. Knockdown of GSAP expression in N2a cells decreased amyloid-β levels. In contrast, overexpression of GSAP in HEK cells expressing amyloid precursor protein or in N2a cells had no overt effect on amyloid-β generation. Likewise, purified recombinant GSAP had no effect on amyloid-β generation in two distinct in vitro γ-secretase assays. In subsequent cellular studies with imatinib, a kinase inhibitor that reportedly prevents the interaction of GSAP with the C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein, a concentration-dependent decrease in amyloid-β levels was observed. However, no interaction between GSAP and the C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein was evident in co-immunoprecipitation studies. In addition, subchronic administration of imatinib to rats had no effect on brain amyloid-β levels. In summary, these findings suggest the roles of GSAP and imatinib in the regulation of γ-secretase activity and amyloid-β generation are uncertain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Benzamides
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proteins
  • Pyrimidines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • gamma-secretase activating protein, mouse
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases