Molecular mechanism of substrate recognition and cleavage by human γ-secretase

Successive cleavages of amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragment with 99 residues (APP-C99) by γ-secretase result in amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides of varying lengths. Most cleavages have a step size of three residues. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we determined the atomic structures of human γ-secretase bound individually to APP-C99, Aβ49, Aβ46, and Aβ43. In all cases, the substrate displays the same structural features: a transmembrane α-helix, a three-residue linker, and a β-strand that forms a hybrid β-sheet with presenilin 1 (PS1). Proteolytic cleavage occurs just ahead of the substrate β-strand. Each cleavage is followed by unwinding and translocation of the substrate α-helix by one turn and the formation of a new β-strand. This mechanism is consistent with existing biochemical data and may explain the cleavages of other substrates by γ-secretase.