Name

APP Gene

amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein

This gene encodes a cell surface receptor and transmembrane precursor protein that is cleaved by secretases to form a number of peptides. Some of these peptides are secreted and can bind to the acetyltransferase complex APBB1/TIP60 to promote transcriptional activation, while others form the protein basis of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease. In addition, two of the peptides are antimicrobial peptides, having been shown to have bacteriocidal and antifungal activities. Mutations in this gene have been implicated in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease and cerebroarterial amyloidosis (cerebral amyloid angiopathy). Multiple transcript variants encoding several different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2014]

APP-DT Gene

APP divergent transcript

BACE1 Gene

beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1

This gene encodes a member of the peptidase A1 family of aspartic proteases. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants, at least one of which encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to generate the mature protease. This transmembrane protease catalyzes the first step in the formation of amyloid beta peptide from amyloid precursor protein. Amyloid beta peptides are the main constituent of amyloid beta plaques, which accumulate in the brains of human Alzheimer's disease patients. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2015]

BACE2 Gene

beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 2

This gene encodes an integral membrane glycoprotein that functions as an aspartic protease. The encoded protein cleaves amyloid precursor protein into amyloid beta peptide, which is a critical step in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome. The protein precursor is further processed into an active mature peptide. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2013]