Presenilins and Alzheimer's Disease

With the discovery of the presenilin genes, molecular and biochemical studies of Alzheimer's disease have recently undergone a major revolution. One of the greatest revelations to arise from these studies of the presenilins is the findings that, like the familial Alzheimer's disease mutations in APP, the mutations in the presenilin genes lead to increased production and secretion of the longer form of the Aß peptide, Aß42, which seeds ß-amyloid formation in the brain. The presenilins have also been implicated in the process of programmed cell death. An understanding of the mechanisms by which mutations in the presenilin genes cause neurodegeneration and dementia should greatly facilitate the development of novel strategies for treating Alzheimer's and related disorders.
TOC: Molecluar genetics of the presenilins in Alzheimer's Disease.- Alzheimer's Disease: A matter of dominance.-Metabolism and function of presenilin 1.- Alternative endoproteolysis of the presenilins and familial Alzheimer's disease.-The APP and PS1/2 mutations linked to early onset familial Alzheimer's Disease increase the extracellular concentration of Aß1-42 .-Mechanistic studies of the effect of presenilins 1 and 2 on APP metabolism.-Presenilin 2 - APP interactions.