Presenilin: running with scissors in the membrane
Dennis J Selkoe1, Michael S Wolfe
1Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. dselkoe@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Cell
|October 25, 2007
Summary
The presenilin/gamma-secretase complex, a membrane-embedded protease, is crucial for processing proteins and signaling pathways. Understanding its role in Alzheimer's disease and cancer is key for developing new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The presenilin/gamma-secretase complex is a unique membrane-embedded protease.
- It processes various integral membrane proteins, clearing protein stubs.
- This complex plays a role in critical cell signaling pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding presenilin/gamma-secretase function.
- To highlight the complex's involvement in biological and medical contexts.
- To identify key questions for future research in this area.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on presenilin/gamma-secretase.
- Analysis of its role in protein processing and signaling.
- Examination of its implications in disease pathology.
Main Results:
- Presenilin/gamma-secretase is central to processing diverse membrane proteins.
- The complex is implicated in Alzheimer's disease and certain cancers.
- Recent progress has shed light on its biological and medical significance.
Conclusions:
- Presenilin/gamma-secretase is a vital therapeutic target due to its disease relevance.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate its complex roles.
- Deciphering its mechanisms can lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Insertion of Single-pass Transmembrane Proteins in the RER
Integral membrane proteins are proteins adhered to the lipid bilayer of a cell organelle or membrane. They can be of two types: transmembrane integral proteins that span the lipid bilayer and monotopic proteins that are attached to either side of the membrane but do not pass through it.
Integral transmembrane proteins possess transmembrane and extra membrane domains. The transmembrane domains are primarily made of 20-25 hydrophobic amino acids arranged in a helical secondary confirmation. These...
Integral transmembrane proteins possess transmembrane and extra membrane domains. The transmembrane domains are primarily made of 20-25 hydrophobic amino acids arranged in a helical secondary confirmation. These...
01:19Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters
Enzymes like flippase, floppase, and scramblase transfer phospholipids from one layer to another in the membrane, thereby affecting membrane asymmetry.
Flippase
Eukaryotic flippases are type-IV P-type ATPases or P4-ATPases belonging to P-type ATPase family proteins that are membrane-bound pumps involved in the ATP-mediated transport of ions and molecules across the membrane. Flippases flip specific phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of a membrane. All P4-ATPases have one...
Flippase
Eukaryotic flippases are type-IV P-type ATPases or P4-ATPases belonging to P-type ATPase family proteins that are membrane-bound pumps involved in the ATP-mediated transport of ions and molecules across the membrane. Flippases flip specific phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of a membrane. All P4-ATPases have one...
01:32Pinching-off of Coated Vesicles
Vesicle budding is orchestrated by distinct cytosolic proteins such as adaptor proteins, coat proteins, and GTPases. To initiate vesicle budding, membrane-bending proteins containing crescent-shaped BAR domains bind to the lipid heads in the bilayer and distort the membrane to form a protein-coated vesicle bud. Adaptors proteins such as AP2 for clathrin-coated vesicles can nucleate on the deformed membrane. Finally, coat proteins such as clathrin or COPI and COPII assemble into a coat forming...
01:12Porin Insertion in the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane
Porins are beta-barrel proteins translocated to the mitochondrial outer membrane through the TOM complex into the intermembrane space. Porin precursors bind TIM chaperones within the intermembrane space and are guided to the Sorting and Assembly Machinery complex or SAM complex on the outer mitochondrial membrane.
Three models describe the assembly of porins by the SAM complex and their insertion into the outer membrane. Model 1 suggests that porins are assembled outside the SAM channel as the...
Three models describe the assembly of porins by the SAM complex and their insertion into the outer membrane. Model 1 suggests that porins are assembled outside the SAM channel as the...
01:26Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane
Proteins and neurotransmitters in secretory vesicles can be released from a cell upon vesicle docking, priming, and fusion with the plasma membrane. Vesicles are docked and primed in preparation for the quick exocytosis of their contents in response to a stimulus. The fusion process is mainly carried out by a SNAP Receptor or SNARE complex, consisting of synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1, and SNAP-25.
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
01:28Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...