beta-secretase

beta-secretase

(bā-tă-sē-krĕ-tāz), Agent that exists in two isoforms; protein with homology to the pepsin family of aspartyl proteases involved in the cleavage of beta-amyloid precursor protein; the gene for this protein is located on chromosome 11.

BACE1

B-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme. An aspartic-acid protease encoded by BACE1 on chromosome 11q23.2.-q23.3, which is linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and the formation of myelin sheaths in peripheral nerve cells. BACE1 is a transmembrane aspartic protease (beta-secretase) found in the Golgi apparatus, trans-Golgi network, secretory vesicles, and endosomes. It cleaves amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the brain into amyloid beta peptide, a major component of the amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the deposition of which is the central pathology in AD, for which BACE1 is potential therapeutic target.