Gamma-secretase and the intramembrane proteolysis of Notch
Ellen Jorissen1, Bart De Strooper
1Center for Human Genetics, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Gamma-secretase is the crucial proteolytic activity that releases the Notch intracellular domain and is therefore a central player in the canonical Notch-signaling transduction pathway. We discuss here briefly the discovery of gamma-secretase and what is known on its structure and function. Recent work also indicates that the assembly and activity of gamma-secretase might be regulated by novel cell biological mechanisms. Finally we explore the recent insight that there are several gamma-secretase complexes in mammalian and discuss possibilities to use gamma-secretase as a drug target in Alzheimer's disease and cancer.
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