Presenilin 1 overexpressions in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells decreases the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein: relevance for neurodegeneration.

Mutations in the presenilin 1 (PS1) gene have been associated to familial Alzheimer disease although the exact pathogenic mechanism is unclear. We report that stable overexpression of wild type PS1 led to a decrease in cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK 4) activity and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRb) phosphorylation that correlated with decreased levels of beta-catenin and cyclin D1. PS1 mutant D385A also precipitated a similar effect suggesting that gamma-secretase cleavage is not essential for PS1-mediated CDK 4 inhibition. We postulate that PS1 overexpression may balance the hyperphosphorylation of pRb associated with death of post mitotic neurons after injury.