Abstract

BackgroundThe brains of patients with Alzheimers disease (AD) reveal increased cellular membrane levels of cholesterol. Correspondingly, we previously showed that elevating levels of membrane cholesterol in neuronal cultures recapitulates early AD phenotypes including excessive cleavage of amyloid {beta} (A{beta}) peptides from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Here we aimed to evaluate how the presence of a cholesterol-binding site (CBS) in the transmembrane and juxtamembrane regions of APP regulates its processing. MethodsWe generated seven single and two double APP mutants at amino acid positions 22, 26, 28, 29, 33, 39 of the A{beta} sequence changing the charge and/or hydrophobicity of the targeted amino acids. HEK293T cells were transfected with APP constructs and secreted A{beta} peptides were measured using ELISA and mass spectrometry (MS). APP processing in normal and high cholesterol condition, and endocytosis were assessed in stably expressing APPwt and APPK28A HEK293T clones. Finally, we measured the binding of synthetic peptides derived from the A{beta} sequence to cholesterol-rich exosomes purified from control HEK293T cells. ResultsMost mutations triggered a reduction in the production of A{beta}40 and A{beta}42 peptides, whereas only juxtamembrane mutants resulted in the generation of shorter A{beta} peptides. We confirmed by mass spectrometry this specific change in the profile of secreted A{beta} peptides for the most characteristic APPK28A mutant. A transient increase of plasma membrane cholesterol enhanced the production of A{beta}40 by APPWT, an effect absent with APPK28A. The enzymatic activity of -, {beta}- and {gamma}-secretases remained unchanged in cells expressing APPK28A. Similarly, APPK28A subcellular localization in early endosomes did not differ to APPWT. Finally, WT but not CBS mutant A{beta} derived peptides bound to cholesterol-rich exosomes. ConclusionsTaken together, these data reveal a major role of the juxtamembrane region of APP in binding to cholesterol and accordingly in the regulation of APP processing. Binding of cholesterol to K28 could staple APP to the juxtamembrane region thereby permitting access to {gamma}-secretase cleavage at positions 40-42. The APPK28 mutant would lie deeper in the membrane, facilitating the production of shorter A{beta} peptides and unveiling this specific region as a novel target for reducing the production of toxic A{beta} species.