Inhibition of BACE, a Promising Approach to Alzheimers Disease Therapy

Title: Inhibition of BACE, a Promising Approach to Alzheimers Disease Therapy

Volume: 2 Issue: 4

Author(s): Silvio Roggo

Affiliation:

Keywords: bace, aspartic protease, inhibition, app, amyliod, pepstatin, protease, indinavir, amprenavir, tipranavir, aliskiren

Abstract: The first proteolytic step in the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain is performed by β-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1). This enzyme is a membrane bound aspartic protease with high homology of the catalytic domain to renin and pepsin and of yet unknown physiologic function. It is a primary drug discovery target for Alzheimers disease therapy. The first potent inhibitors are based on the sequence of APP around the β-secretase cleavage site EVNL / DAEF, with the scissile Leu-Asp amide bond being replaced by a hydroxyethylene transition state analogue isostere. In addition, lipophilic sidechains have been incorporated and a crystal structure of such an octapeptidic inhibitor bound in the active site is already available. Recent progress in the field of BACE inhibition is reviewed.

Cite this article as:

Roggo Silvio, Inhibition of BACE, a Promising Approach to Alzheimers Disease Therapy, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2002; 2 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026024607490