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The role of amyloid precursor protein processing by BACE1, the beta-secretase, in Alzheimer disease pathophysiology
Cole SL, Vassar R.. The Journal of biological chemistry, 2008-07-23
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Amyloid plaques, composed of the amyloid beta-protein (Abeta), are hallmark neuropathological lesions in Alzheimer disease (AD) brain. Abeta fulfills a central role in AD pathogenesis, and reduction of Abeta levels should prove beneficial for AD treatment. Abeta generation is initiated by proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the beta-secretase enzyme BACE1.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Cole, S. L., & Vassar, R. (2008). The role of amyloid precursor protein processing by BACE1, the beta-secretase, in Alzheimer disease pathophysiology. The Journal of biological chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.r800015200
Vancouver
Cole SL, Vassar R. The role of amyloid precursor protein processing by BACE1, the beta-secretase, in Alzheimer disease pathophysiology. The Journal of biological chemistry. 2008. doi:10.1074/jbc.r800015200. PMID: 18650431.
BibTeX
@article{cole2008-18650431,
author = {Cole, S. L. and Vassar, R.},
title = {{The role of amyloid precursor protein processing by BACE1, the beta-secretase, in Alzheimer disease pathophysiology}},
journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1074/jbc.r800015200},
pmid = {18650431},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.r800015200}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Abeta fulfills a central role in AD pathogenesis, and reduction of Abeta levels should prove beneficial for AD treatment.
- Abeta generation is initiated by proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the beta-secretase enzyme BACE1.
- Bace1 knockout (Bace1(-/-)) mice have validated BACE1 as the authentic beta-secretase in vivo.
- BACE1 is essential for Abeta generation and represents a suitable drug target for AD therapy, especially because this enzyme is up-regulated in AD.
Why it matters
This review states that BACE1 initiates amyloid beta generation and that Bace1 knockout mice confirm it as the beta-secretase, making it a suitable drug target. It proposes a treatment strategy but reports no trial or proven therapy.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
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 (The Journal of biological chemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Journal of Biological Chemistry: journal h-index 780 (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 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 262 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.1 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 43 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Robert J. Vassar: h-index 73 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Northwestern University: institution h-index 1,592 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18650431) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r800015200
- PubMed: 18650431
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Biological Chemistry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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Also tagged “precursor”
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