The Beta-secretase Enzyme BACE in Health and Alzheimer's Disease: Regulation, Cell Biology, Function, and Therapeutic Potential

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2009 Oct 16

PMID 19828790

Citations 274

Authors

Robert Vassar

Dora M Kovacs

Riqiang Yan

Philip C Wong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide is the major constituent of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain and is likely to play a central role in the pathogenesis of this devastating neurodegenerative disorder. The beta-secretase, beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1; also called Asp2, memapsin 2), is the enzyme responsible for initiating Abeta generation. Thus, BACE is a prime drug target for the therapeutic inhibition of Abeta production in AD. Since its discovery 10 years ago, much has been learned about BACE. This review summarizes BACE properties, describes BACE translation dysregulation in AD, and discusses BACE physiological functions in sodium current, synaptic transmission, myelination, and schizophrenia. The therapeutic potential of BACE will also be considered. This is a summary of topics covered at a symposium held at the 39th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and is not meant to be a comprehensive review of BACE.

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