Fig. 1. Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque formation. Aβ is a cleavage product of amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP is a transmembrane protein which undergoes cleavage via amyloidogenic pathway involving 2 enzymes: β-secretase and γ-secretase. β-secretase cuts APP at a position outside the cell and γ-secretase cuts APP at a position inside the cell membrane. Misfolded proteins (Aβ40 and Aβ42) act as seeds that accelerate the protein aggregation into oligomers, fibrils, and amyloid plaques. The fibril then breaks forming new seeds allowing for self-propagation of the process. sAPPβ, soluble amyloid precursor protein β.
© J Neurogastroenterol Motil
