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Localization of Alzheimer beta A4 amyloid precursor protein at central and peripheral synaptic sites
Schubert W, Prior R, Weidemann A, Dircksen H, Multhaup G, Masters CL, Beyreuther K.. Brain research, 1991-11-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
We have recently shown that the amyloid beta A4 precursor protein (APP) is synthesized in neurons and undergoes fast axonal transport to synaptic sites [Koo et al., Proc. Using immunofluorescence, laser confocal microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy with simultaneous detection of APP and synaptophysin, we now report a preferential localization of APP at synaptic sites of human and rat brain and at neuromuscular junctions. APP is further found on vesicular elements of neuronal perikarya, dendrites and axons.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Schubert, W., Prior, R., Weidemann, A., Dircksen, H., Multhaup, G., Masters, C. L., et al. (1991). Localization of Alzheimer beta A4 amyloid precursor protein at central and peripheral synaptic sites. Brain research. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(91)91532-6
Vancouver
Schubert W, Prior R, Weidemann A, Dircksen H, Multhaup G, Masters CL, et al. Localization of Alzheimer beta A4 amyloid precursor protein at central and peripheral synaptic sites. Brain research. 1991. doi:10.1016/0006-8993(91)91532-6. PMID: 1786532.
BibTeX
@article{schubert1991-1786532,
author = {Schubert, W. and Prior, R. and Weidemann, A. and Dircksen, H. and Multhaup, G. and Masters, C. L. and Beyreuther, K.},
title = {{Localization of Alzheimer beta A4 amyloid precursor protein at central and peripheral synaptic sites}},
journal = {Brain research},
year = {1991},
doi = {10.1016/0006-8993(91)91532-6},
pmid = {1786532},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(91)91532-6}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Using immunofluorescence, laser confocal microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy with simultaneous detection of APP and synaptophysin, we now report a preferential localization of APP at synaptic sites of human and rat brain and at neuromuscular junctions.
- APP is further found on vesicular elements of neuronal perikarya, dendrites and axons.
- The synaptic localization of APP implies (1) a role of APP in physiological synaptic activity and (2) a potential and early impairment of central synapses when synaptic APP is converted to beta A4 amyloid during the pathological evolution of Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome.
Why it matters
This study found that the amyloid precursor protein is located at synapses in human and rat brain and at neuromuscular junctions. That location suggests the protein has a normal role in synaptic activity and that synapses could be affected early in Alzheimer's disease, but the work describes localization only and does not test any treatment.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Brain Research: journal h-index 399 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1991 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 265 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.2 citations a year over 37 year(s) since 1991 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Konrad T. Beyreuther: h-index 107 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Heidelberg University: institution h-index 1,344 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 1786532) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
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Also tagged “precursor”
1,339 studies in the library carry the topic tag “precursor”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,339 tagged studies.