Accumulation of the amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) in the cerebral cortex is a critical event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The beta-amyloid protein precursor (APP) is cleaved by beta-secretase, producing a soluble derivative of the protein and a membrane anchored 99-amino acid carboxy-terminal fragment (C99). The C99 fragment serves as substrate for gamma-secretase to generate the 4 kDa amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta), which is deposited in the brains of all suffers of Alzheimer's disease.
