| abstract |
A proteolytic factor is capable of cleaving β-protein precursor at a site near the β-protein N-terminus. Also, a method for treating Alzheimer's disease in a patient includes steps of reducing $(b)-protein precursor proteolysis outside the β-protein domain at a site near the β-protein N-terminus. Also, a method for purifying en enzyme from a sample includes steps of incubating the sample with a labelled substrate of the enzyme or with a labelled fragment of a substrate to which the enzyme binds, treating the sample with a crosslinking agent to crosslink any enzyme-substrate complexes in the sample, and recovering labelled complexes. Also, a method for diagnosis in a subject of a disease characterized by accumulation of amyloid includes determining the level, in a sample of tissue or body fluid from the subject, of an AD proteolytic factor. Also, a method for screening for an agent useful in treatment of a disease characterized by accumulation of amyloid includes steps of incubating an AD protease with a peptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to the sequence spanning the β-protein N-terminus in the presence of a candidate agent, and determining the degradation of the peptide. |