As scientific research explores the role of b-Amyloid in Alzheimer's Disease, the secretases whose cleavage activity produces b-Amyloid fragments have become an important focus
One of the world's most comprehensive providers of b-amyloid peptides, AnaSpec has introduced a new line of amyloid-related secretase substrates, assay kits and inhibitors.
Amyloid Precursor Protein, APP, a transmembrane glycoprotein of about 770 amino acids, is cleaved by a-Secretase and b-Secretase to produce C-terminal fragments that are 83 amino acids (C83) and 99-amino acids (C99) in length, respectively.
Subsequent cleavages of C83 and C99 by g-Secretase produce a 3-kD (p3) protein in the former and a 4-kD (b-amyloid) protein in the latter and a CT57-59 in both fragments.
The 4-Kd consists of Ab which are 39 to 42 amino acids in length, with Ab 1-42 being the major component of amyloid plaques which accumulates in neurons of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain.
Consequently, b-Secretase is an important target for AD drug development.
