Alpha secretases are a family of proteolytic enzymes that cleave amyloid precursor protein (APP) in its transmembrane region. Specifically, alpha secretases cleave within the fragment that gives rise to the Alzheimer's disease -associated peptide amyloid beta when APP is instead processed by beta secretase and gamma secretase.

α-Secretase, β-secretase and γ-secretase are proteases that control the production of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain. The secretases represent the most promising drug targets for Alzheimer disease therapies

Alpha secretase is an enzyme that competes with BACE-1 for cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), leading to the secretion of a neurotrophic factor called APPs-alpha, which is beneficial for neuronal health.

The α-secretase cuts the extracellular domain closer to the membrane, leaving 12 amino acids on the external surface. This results in the “constitutive” secretion of the large extracellular domain of APP (sAPP) into the medium.

Ectodomain shedding of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the metalloprotease activity α-secretase is a key regulatory event preventing the generation of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) amyloid β peptide.

Here we review research efforts that have attempted to inhibit the generation of the Aβ peptide through modulation of the activity of the proteolytic secretases that act on APP and discuss whether this is a viable therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Keywords: : alpha, Alzheimer's disease, amyloid hypothesis, beta, beta amyloid, gamma, secretase.

ADAM10 is the main α-secretase that cleaves APP (amyloid precursor protein) in the non-amyloidogenic pathway inhibiting the formation of β-amyloid peptide, whose accumulation and aggregation leads to neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

2012年1月1日 · Inhibitors or modulators that target beta- and gamma-secretases as well as alpha-secretase activators are promising candidates for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A deep knowledge of the secretases is required to develop disease modifying drugs that target them.

Three proteases that are involved in the processing of amyloid precursor protein—α-secretase, β-secretase and γ-secretase—are of particular interest as they are central to the generation and...

Alpha secretase is a protease enzyme that cleaves membrane proteins in a limited manner, with its pathway being sequence independent but conformation and membrane dependent. It plays a crucial role in regulating cellular response to the environment and developmental cues.