Calsyntenin-1 mediates axonal transport of the amyloid precursor protein and regulates Aβ production

Hum Mol Genet. 2012 Jul 1;21(13):2845-54. doi: 10.1093/hmg/dds109. Epub 2012 Mar 20.

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms that control processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) to produce amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide represents a key area of Alzheimer's disease research. Here, we show that siRNA-mediated loss of calsyntenin-1 in cultured neurons alters APP processing to increase production of Aβ. We also show that calsyntenin-1 is reduced in Alzheimer's disease brains and that the extent of this reduction correlates with increased Aβ levels. Calsyntenin-1 is a ligand for kinesin-1 light chains and APP is transported through axons on kinesin-1 molecular motors. Defects in axonal transport are an early pathological feature in Alzheimer's disease and defective APP transport is known to increase Aβ production. We show that calsyntenin-1 and APP are co-transported through axons and that siRNA-induced loss of calsyntenin-1 markedly disrupts axonal transport of APP. Thus, perturbation to axonal transport of APP on calsyntenin-1 containing carriers induces alterations to APP processing that increase production of Aβ. Together, our findings suggest that disruption of calsyntenin-1-associated axonal transport of APP is a pathogenic mechanism in Alzheimer's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADAM Proteins
  • ADAM10 Protein
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / biosynthesis*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Axonal Transport*
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Presenilin-1 / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Rats

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Clstn1 protein, rat
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Presenilin-1
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • nicastrin protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Bace1 protein, rat
  • ADAM Proteins
  • ADAM10 Protein
  • ADAM10 protein, rat
  • Kinesins