The prion protein as a receptor for amyloid-beta

Nature. 2010 Aug 12;466(7308):E3-4; discussion E4-5. doi: 10.1038/nature09217.

Abstract

Increased levels of brain amyloid-beta, a secreted peptide cleavage product of amyloid precursor protein (APP), is believed to be critical in the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease. Increased amyloid-beta can cause synaptic depression, reduce the number of spine protrusions (that is, sites of synaptic contacts) and block long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity; however, the receptor through which amyloid-beta produces these synaptic perturbations has remained elusive. Laurén et al. suggested that binding between oligomeric amyloid-beta (a form of amyloid-beta thought to be most active) and the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is necessary for synaptic perturbations. Here we show that PrP(C) is not required for amyloid-beta-induced synaptic depression, reduction in spine density, or blockade of LTP; our results indicate that amyloid-beta-mediated synaptic defects do not require PrP(c).

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Learning / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • PrPC Proteins / deficiency
  • PrPC Proteins / genetics
  • PrPC Proteins / metabolism*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Synapses / metabolism*
  • Synapses / pathology*
  • Synaptic Transmission

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • PrPC Proteins
  • Serotonin