A paired RNAi and RabGAP overexpression screen identifies Rab11 as a regulator of β-amyloid production.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cerebral deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, which are generated from amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases. APP and the secretases are membrane associated, but whether membrane trafficking controls Aβ levels is unclear. Here, we performed an RNAi screen of all human Rab-GTPases, which regulate membrane trafficking, complemented with a Rab-GTPase-activating protein screen, and present a road map of the membrane-trafficking events regulating Aβ production.

Role of genes linked to sporadic Alzheimer's disease risk in the production of β-amyloid peptides.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of toxic protein aggregates or plaques composed of the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide. Various lengths of Aβ peptide are generated by proteolytic cleavages of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Mutations in many familial AD-associated genes affect the production of the longer Aβ42 variant that preferentially accumulates in plaques.

Cellular basis of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative disease. A characteristic feature of the disease is the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) which either in its soluble oligomeric form or in the plaque-associated form is causally linked to neurodegeneration. Aβ peptide is liberated from the membrane-spanning -amyloid precursor protein by sequential proteolytic processing employing β- and γ-secretases.