Y-secretase

RO4929097: A GAMMA SECRETASE INHIBITOR: Among well known proteases Gamma secretase is one which is made up of various subunits. This is present in the membrane hence is a protein in membrane which is also capable of cleaving certain transmembrane proteins therefore also known as the intramembrane protease. In case of Alzheimer’s disease amyloid plaques are formed in brain, these plaques are resulted due to the amyloid beta peptide and these peptides are produced due to the action of gamma secretase, this is one of the well known examples of this protease. Presently, we are focusing on the important role of gamma secretase in the Notch protein processing. In case of many cancers and tumors this Notch protein signaling is found to be abnormal, therefore the arresting of this pathway can be an authentic way to get rid of abnormal cell growth. In the light of this idea a novel RO4929097 gamma secretase inhibitor is discovered. The inhibitory effect of this inhibitor has been confirmed by various methods like western blotting.    > Read the Full Post

Introduction: Gamma secretase Inhibition Gamma secretase is an internal protease enzyme that is a complex of a number of subunits. Its mode of action is to cleave proteins that lie within the membrane-spanning domain, these include the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the Notch. The Notch signaling pathway processes four different Notch receptors (1, 2, 3 and 4) which span the cell membrane. Upon extracellular interaction with a substrate protein the internal domain is released. This section of the protein then induced a signaling cascade within the cell nucleus to alter gene expression. The function of the various NOTCH proteins is varied but in terms of cancer notch receptors have been demonstrated to be down regulated in basal cells carcinomas and cervical cancers. Notch 1 over-expression is associated with acute T cell leukemia and breast cancer, Notch 3 receptor is over-expressed in 20% of ovarian cancers [5-7] while overexpression of Notch 4 is evident in murine models of breast cancer. The field of research into NOTCH signaling is vast and beyond the scope of this document, simple put there existed evidence that inhibition of aberrant NOTCH over-expression would be an ideal target for chemotherapeutic activity. The development of inhibitors which would affect the action of NOTCH led to the targeting of the Gamma secretase enzyme. Developed by Roche the RO4929097 gamma secretase inhibitor represents a potent novel small molecule that is orally bioavailable.    > Read the Full Post