Presenilin endoproteolysis mediated by an aspartyl protease activity pharmacologically distinct from γ-secretase

Presenilin (PS)-dependent γ-secretase cleavage is the final proteolytic step in generating amyloid β protein (Aβ), a key peptide involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. PS undergoes endoproteolysis by an unidentified 'presenilinase' to generate the functional N-terminal and C-terminal fragment heterodimers (NTF/CTF) that may harbor the γ-secretase active site. To better understand the relationship between presenilinase and γ-secretase, we characterized the biochemical properties of presenilinase and compared them with those of γ-secretase. Similar to γ-secretase, presenilinase was most active at acidic pH 6.3. Aspartyl protease inhibitor pepstatin A blocked presenilinase activity with an IC₅₀ of ∼ 1 μM. Difluoroketone aspartyl protease transition state analogue MW167 was relatively selective for presenilinase (IC₅₀ < 1 μM) over γ-secretase (IC₅₀-16 μM). Importantly, removing the transition state mimicking moiety simultaneously abolished both presenilinase and γ-secretase inhibition, suggesting that presenilinase, like γ-secretase, is an aspartyl protease. Interestingly, several of the most potent γ-secretase inhibitors (IC₅₀ = 0.3 or 20 nM) failed to block presenilinase activity. Although de novo generation of PS1 fragments coincided with production of Aβ in vitro, blocking presenilinase activity without reducing pre-existing fragment levels permitted normal de novo generation of Aβ and amyloid intracellular domain. Therefore, presenilinase has characteristics of an aspartyl protease, but this activity is distinct from γ-secretase.