Description
Product Characteristics:
Essential subunit of the gamma-secretase complex, an endoprotease complex that catalyzes the intramembrane cleavage of integral membrane proteins such as Notch receptors and APP (beta-amyloid precursor protein). It probably represents a stabilizing cofactor required for the assembly of the gamma-secretase complex.
Subcellular location: Cell membrane
Synonyms: ATAG1874, Nicastrin, NCSTN, KIAA0253, UNQ1874/PRO4317
Target Information: This gene encodes a Type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is an integral component of the multimeric gamma-secretase complex. The encoded protein cleaves integral membrane proteins, including Notch receptors and beta-amyloid precursor protein, and may be a stabilizing cofactor required for gamma-secretase complex assembly. The cleavage of beta-amyloid precursor protein yields amyloid beta peptide, the main component of the neuritic plaque and the hallmark lesion in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease\, however, the nature of the encoded protein's role in Alzheimer's disease is not known for certain. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described, but their full-length nature has not been determined. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]