• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.290-294
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• 2021

Extracellular beta amyloid (Aβ) plaques are the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accordingly, reducing Aβ levels is considered a promising strategy for AD prevention. 3'-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside significantly decreased the Aβ production and this effect was accompanied with reduced sAPPβ production known as a soluble ectodomain APP fragment through β-secretases in HeLa cells overexpressing amyloid precursor proteins (APPs). This compound also increased the level of sAPPα, which is a proteolytic fragment of APP by α-secretases. In addition, 3'-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside decreased the protein level of β-secretases, but the protein levels of A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family, especially ADAM10 and ADAM17, are increased. Thus, 3'-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside could be useful in the development of AD treatment in the aspect of amyloid pathology.

• Proceeding of EDISON Challenge
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• 2014.03a
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• pp.237-249
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• 2014

Deposition of amyloid-${\beta}$ ($A{\beta}$) proteins is the conventional pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The $A{\beta}$ protein formed from the amyloid precursor protein is predominated by the 40 residue protein ($A{\beta}40$) and by the 42 residue protein ($A{\beta}42$). While $A{\beta}40$ and $A{\beta}42$ differ in only two amino acid residues at the C-terminal end, $A{\beta}42$ is much more prone to aggregate and exhibits more neurotoxicity than $A{\beta}40$. Here, we investigate the molecular origin of the difference in the aggregation propensity of these two proteins by performing fully atomistic, explicit-water molecular dynamics simulations. Then, it is followed by the solvation thermodynamic analysis based on the integral-equation theory of liquids. We find that $A{\beta}42$ displays higher tendency to adopt ${\beta}$-sheet conformations than $A{\beta}40$, which would consequently facilitate the conversion to the ${\beta}$-sheet rich fibril structure. Furthermore, the solvation thermodynamic analysis on the simulated protein conformations indicates that $A{\beta}42$ is more hydrophobic than $A{\beta}40$, implying that the surrounding water imparts a larger thermodynamic driving force for the self-assembly of $A{\beta}42$. Taken together, our results provide structural and thermodynamic grounds on why $A{\beta}42$ is more aggregation-prone than $A{\beta}40$ in aqueous environments.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.263-272
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• 2024

Amyloid-β (Aβ) is one of the amyloidogenic intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that self-assemble to protein aggregates, incurring cell malfunction and cytotoxicity. While Aβ has been known to regulate multiple physiological functions, such as enhancing synaptic functions, aiding in the recovery of the blood-brain barrier/brain injury, and exhibiting tumor suppression/antimicrobial activities, the hydrophobicity of the primary structure promotes pathological aggregations that are closely associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ proteins consist of multiple isoforms with 37-43 amino acid residues that are produced by the cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). The hydrolytic products of APP are secreted to the extracellular regions of neuronal cells. Aβ 1-42 (Aβ42) and Aβ 1-40 (Aβ40) are dominant isoforms whose significance in AD pathogenesis has been highlighted in numerous studies to understand the molecular mechanism and develop AD diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on the differences between Aβ42 and Aβ40 in the molecular mechanism of amyloid aggregations mediated by the two additional residues (Ile41 and Ala42) of Aβ42. The current comprehension of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in AD progression is outlined, together with the structural features of Aβ42/Aβ40 amyloid fibrils, and the aggregation mechanisms of Aβ42/Aβ40. Furthermore, the impact of the heterogeneous distribution of Aβ isoforms during amyloid aggregations is discussed in the system mimicking the coexistence of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2007

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized pathologically by the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and deposition of ${\beta}-amyloid $ (A ${\beta}$) peptides, which are generated by processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP). It is urgent to develop effective therapies for the treatment of AD, since our society rapidly accelerate aging. A${\beta}$ peptides have been believed to be neurotoxic and now are also considered to have effects on the mechanism of memory formation. In this study, effects of radicicol on the metabolism of APP were analyzed. Radicicol inhibited the secretion of A${\beta}$ from the Neuro2a cell line (APPswe cell) expressing APPswe. Beta-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE) fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay revealed that it inhibited BACE activity in a dose dependently manner. Immunoblotting study showed that it inhibited intracellular heat shock protein (HSP)90 and it increased the secretion of HSP90 from the APPswe cells. We suggest that radicicol inhibits APP metabolism and Ap generation by the means of HSP90 inhibitory mechanism and partially BACE inhibitory mechanism. This is the first report that radicicol inhibits the secretion of A${\beta}$ peptides from neuroblastoma cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.18-25
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• 2018

Proteins play a key role in many functions such as metabolic activity, differentiation, as cargos and cell fate regulators. It is necessary to know about the markers involved in male fertility in order to develop remedies for the treatment of male infertility. But, the role of the proteins is not limited to particular function in the biological systems. Some of the proteins act as ion channels such as catsper and proteins like Nanos acts as a translational repressor in germ cells and expressed in prenatal period whose role in male fertility is uncertain. Rbm5 is a pre mRNA splicing factor necessary for sperm differentiation whose loss of function results deficit in sperm production. DEFB114 is a beta defensin family protein necessary for sperm motility in LPS challenged mice where as TEX 101 is a plasma membrane specific germ cell protein whose function is not clearly known u to now. Gpr56 is another adhesion protein whose null mutation leads to arrest of production of pups in rats. Amyloid precursor protein role in Alzheimer's disease is already known but it plays an important role in male fertility also but its function is uncertain and has to be considered while targeting APP during the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The study on amyloid precursor protein in male fertility is a novel thing but requires further study in correlation to alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.170-180
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• 1996

Lowered immune function in the senile dementia patients may be related to the abnormal metabolism of amyloid precursor protein(APP). To investigate the passibility of an abnormal metabolism of APP in lymphocytes and the possible role of APP in the activation of lymphocytes in senile dementia patients, immunohistochemical study of rat spleen and fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis(FACS) of human lymphocytes with the specific antigen far each lymphocyte and double fluorescent marker with antibody to APP were performed. After stimulating lymphocyte with phytohemagglutinin(PHA), APP mRNA and protein were extracted and quantitfied and the influence of ${\beta}$-amyloid protein($A{\beta}$) specific antibody on lymphocyte division was investigated. In spleen, the majority of cells showing $A{\beta}$ immunoreactivity was found in the T-sell dependent zone. FACS indicated that around 90% $CD_4(+)$ T-cells and 60% of $CD_8(+)$ T-sell were immunoreactive to $A{\beta}$ specific antibody(mAb 4G8). Northern blot analysis shows that lymphocyte APP mRNA was gradually increased to reach a maximum at 3 days after activation with lectin mitogen PHA. However, the $A{\beta}$ immunoreactivity an cell surface remained constant during stimulation with PHA, indicating that the release of APP(secreted farm of APP) might be increased. A very large increase in soluble APP secretion was observed in T-lymphocyte upon activation, but only law levels in the resting stale. Immunoblot was carried out an the protein obtained from cell lysate after stimulating lymphocyte by applying PHA to the cultured lymphocyte, and the result was that $A{\beta}$ band of immature farm under 116 KDa marker decreased as the duration of culture was increased after PHA stimulation. The monoclonal $A{\beta}$ specific(4G8) and polyclonal APP antibodies did not inhibit the [$^3H$]-thymidine uptake of mitogen-treated lymphocytes significantly, suggesting that mitogenesis can not be inhibited by specific $A{\beta}$ and polyclonal APP antibody. These results suggest that APP is expressed in T-cell and might be closely associated with the function of T-cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.529-534
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• 2010

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized pathologically by the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and deposition of ${\beta}$-amyloid ($A{\beta}$) peptides, which are generated by processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP). It is urgent to develop effective therapies for the treatment of AD, since our society rapidly accelerate aging. $A{\beta}$ peptides have been believed to be neurotoxic and now are also considered to have effects on the mechanism of memory formation. Recently, we investigated that a quinoline compound from natural product reduced the secretion of $A{\beta}$ from the neuroblastoma N2a cells (NL/N cell line) overexpressing APPswe. In this study, 3-phenyl-1-isoquinolinamine, a synthetic isoquinoline compound was analyzed to determine its effects on the metabolism of APP. It inhibited the secretion of $A{\beta}$ peptides from the N2a NL/N cell line. Beta-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE) fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay revealed that it inhibited BACE activity in a dose dependent manner. Immunoblotting study showed that it inhibited APP stabilization and expression and it slightly increased the stablization and the expression of ${\gamma}$-secreatase component from the N2a NL/N cell line. We suggest that 3-phenyl-1-isoquinolinamine inhibits APP metabolism and $A{\beta}$ generation by the means of BACE inhibitory mechanism. This is the first report that 3-phenyl-1-isoquinolinamine inhibits the secretion of $A{\beta}$ peptides from neuroblastoma cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.242-245
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• 2005

The most common feature of neurodegenerative disease (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, AD) is the increased number of activated microglial cells nearby the pathogenic area of the brain, such as amyloid plaque in AD. An abnormality of protein regulation and an imbalance of clearance against ${\beta}-amyloid\;(A{\beta})$ produced amyloid precursor protein (APP) can turn microglia into the activated feature out of the ramified resting phase. We examined the possibility that ginsenoside Rb1 could attenuate the microglial activation induced by massive $A{\beta}$ that has known to induce a chronic inflammation, which is a major cause of AD by damaging neuronal cells (i.e. apoptosis or necrosis). Aggregated $A{\beta}42\;(5\;{\mu}M)$ peptide was used with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ($10\;{\mu}g$) for a comparative control up to 48hours. We found that Rb1 reduced the production of nitric oxide as well as proinflammatory cytokines, such as $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2017

The ${\gamma}$-secretase complex represents an evolutionarily conserved family of transmembrane aspartyl proteases that cleave numerous type-I membrane proteins, including the ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the receptor Notch. All known rare mutations in APP and the ${\gamma}$-secretase catalytic component, presenilin, which lead to increased amyloid ${\beta}$-peptide production, are responsible for early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease. ${\beta}$-amyloid protein precursor-like (APPL) is the Drosophila ortholog of human APP. Here, we created Notch- and APPL-based Drosophila reporter systems for in vivo monitoring of ${\gamma}$-secretase activity. Ectopic expression of the Notch- and APPL-based chimeric reporters in wings results in vein truncation phenotypes. Reporter-mediated vein truncation phenotypes are enhanced by the Notch gain-of-function allele and suppressed by RNAi-mediated knockdown of presenilin. Furthermore, we find that apoptosis partly contributes to the vein truncation phenotypes of the APPL-based reporter, but not to the vein truncation phenotypes of the Notch-based reporter. Taken together, these results suggest that both in vivo reporter systems provide a powerful genetic tool to identify genes that modulate ${\gamma}$-secretase activity and/or APPL metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2008

The neurotoxicity of C-terminal fragments of amyloid precusor protein (CT) is known to play some roles in Alzheimer's disease progression. In this study, we investigated the effects of the recombinant C-terminal 105 amino acid fragment of amyloid precusor protein (CT105) on cholinergic function using CT105-injected rat. To study the effects of CT105 on septohippocampal pathway, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) positive neurons were examined in the medial septum and in the diagonal band after an injection of CT105 peptide into the lateral ventricle. Immunohistological analysis revealed that the number of ChAT-immunopositive cells decreased significantly in both medial septum and diagonal band. In addition, CT105 decreased ChAT-immunopositive cells in the hippocampal area, particulary in the dentate gyros. To study the effect of amyloid beta peptide ($A{\beta}$) and CT105 on the cholinergic system, each peptide was injected into the left lateral ventricle, and acetylcholine (ACh) levels were monitored in hippocampus. ACh level in the hippocampal area was reduced to 60% of control level in $A{\beta}$-treated group, and the level was reduced to 15% of control level in CT105-treated group, at one week after the injection. ACh level was further reduced to 35% of control in $A{\beta}$-treated group, whereas the level was slightly increased to 30% of control in CT105-treated group at 4 weeks after the injection. Taken together, the results in the present study suggest that CT105 impairs the septohippocampal pathway by reducing acetylcholine synthesis and release, which results in damage of learning and memory.