Palmitoylation mediates neuron-specific BACE1 localization: Implications for APP processing using a knock-in mouse model /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:Fernandez, Celia Giulietta, author.
Imprint:2015.
Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2015
Description:1 electronic resource (149 pages)
Language:English
Format: E-Resource Dissertations
Local Note:School code: 0330
URL for this record:http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/10773374
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Other authors / contributors:University of Chicago. degree granting institution.
ISBN:9781339320694
Notes:Advisors: Gopal Thinakaran Committee members: William Green; James Mastrianni; Sangram Sisodia; Robert Vassar.
This item is not available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.
Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 77-05(E), Section: B.
English
Summary:Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease of aging characterized by the presence in the brain of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, the latter being composed of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptides. Abeta is implicated in synapse dysfunction and neuronal cell death, ultimately leading to the cognitive decline seen in the disease. Significant research effort has therefore focused on studying the production and clearance mechanisms of Abeta. Sequential cleavage of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) by beta- and gamma-secretase activities releases the Abeta peptide. beta-site APP-Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1) was identified as the beta-secretase over 15 years ago, and is an attractive therapeutic target for treatment of AD. Modulating BACE1 localization away from the intracellular compartment in which it encounters APP is one proposed strategy for specifically blocking APP cleavage, leaving the other functions of BACE1 intact. However, a detailed characterization of BACE1 transport, specifically in neurons, is incomplete. I set out to study the potential mediators of BACE1 localization in neurons, focusing on a type of post-translational modification, palmitoylation. I hypothesized that BACE1 mislocalization in neurons would alter APP processing and Abeta deposition. Using cultured hippocampal neurons expressing a non-palmitoylatable mutant, I have found that lack of palmitoylation prevents BACE1 localization in dendritic spines. While BACE1 normally enriches into the axonal versus the somatodendritic compartment over time in mature neurons, the non-palmitoylatable mutant does not. I have created a knock-in mouse model in which the non-palmitoylatable mutant is expressed under the control of the endogenous promoter, and while this mouse thus far has failed to demonstrate any striking differences in BACE1 localization or APP processing compared to mice expressing wild-type BACE1, an Alzheimer's mouse model expressing this non-palmitoylatable mutant exhibits decreased Abeta plaque deposition. This mouse model therefore constitutes a valuable tool to study whether specific modifications of BACE1 affect transport in vivo and whether this transport is linked to APP processing.

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