Presenilins are enriched in endoplasmic reticulum membranes associated with mitochondria

E Area-Gomez, AJC de Groof, I Boldogh, TD Bird… - The American journal of …, 2009 - Elsevier
E Area-Gomez, AJC de Groof, I Boldogh, TD Bird, GE Gibson, CM Koehler, WH Yu, KE Duff
The American journal of pathology, 2009Elsevier
Presenilin-1 (PS1) and− 2 (PS2), which when mutated cause familial Alzheimer disease,
have been localized to numerous compartments of the cell, including the endoplasmic
reticulum, Golgi, nuclear envelope, endosomes, lysosomes, the plasma membrane, and
mitochondria. Using three complementary approaches, subcellular fractionation, γ-secretase
activity assays, and immunocytochemistry, we show that presenilins are highly enriched in a
subcompartment of the endoplasmic reticulum that is associated with mitochondria and that …
Presenilin-1 (PS1) and −2 (PS2), which when mutated cause familial Alzheimer disease, have been localized to numerous compartments of the cell, including the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, nuclear envelope, endosomes, lysosomes, the plasma membrane, and mitochondria. Using three complementary approaches, subcellular fractionation, γ-secretase activity assays, and immunocytochemistry, we show that presenilins are highly enriched in a subcompartment of the endoplasmic reticulum that is associated with mitochondria and that forms a physical bridge between the two organelles, called endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria-associated membranes. A localization of PS1 and PS2 in mitochondria-associated membranes may help reconcile the disparate hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease and may explain many seemingly unrelated features of this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.
Elsevier