Open AccessGenetic and molecular aspects of Alzheimer's disease shed light on new mechanisms of transcriptional regulation
Author(s) -
Marambaud P.,
Robakis N. K.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
genes, brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1601-183X
pISSN - 1601-1848
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2005.00086.x
Subject(s) - neurodegeneration , signal transduction , biology , pathogenesis , neuroscience , alzheimer's disease , disease , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , immunology , pathology
Rapid advances made in biological research aimed at understanding the molecular basis of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease have led to the characterization of a novel catalytic activity termed γ‐secretase. First described for its β‐amyloid‐producing function, γ‐secretase is now actively studied for its role in a novel signal transduction paradigm, which implicates cell‐surface receptor proteolysis and direct surface‐to‐nucleus signal transduction. γ‐Secretase targets numerous type I protein receptors involved in diverse functions ranging from normal development to neurodegeneration. In this Review we discuss how the study of the genetic and molecular aspects of Alzheimer's disease has revealed a dual role of γ‐secretase in transcriptional regulation and in the pathogenesis of familial Alzheimer's disease.