Abstract
Although amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) is the neurotoxic species implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), mechanisms through which intracellular Abeta impairs cellular properties, resulting in neuronal dysfunction, remain to be clarified. Here we demonstrate that intracellular Abeta is present in mitochondria from brains of transgenic mice with targeted neuronal overexpression of mutant human amyloid precursor protein and AD patients. Abeta progressively accumulates in mitochondria and is associated with diminished enzymatic activity of respiratory chain complexes (III and IV) and a reduction in the rate of oxygen consumption. Importantly, mitochondria-associated Abeta, principally Abeta42, was detected as early as 4 months, before extensive extracellular Abeta deposits. Our studies delineate a new means through which Abeta potentially impairs neuronal energetics, contributing to cellular dysfunction in AD.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
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Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry*
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Amyloid beta-Peptides / genetics
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Animals
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Brain / ultrastructure
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Brefeldin A / pharmacology
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Cerebral Cortex / pathology
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Cytosol / metabolism
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Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / chemistry
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Energy Metabolism
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Humans
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Immunoblotting
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic*
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Microscopy, Confocal
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Microscopy, Immunoelectron
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Mitochondria / metabolism
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Mitochondria / pathology*
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Models, Biological
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Mutation
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Oxidative Stress
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Oxygen Consumption
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Peptide Fragments / chemistry
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Peptide Fragments / genetics*
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Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism
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Plaque, Amyloid / pathology
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Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Time Factors
Substances
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Amyloid beta-Peptides
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Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins
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Peptide Fragments
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Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
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amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
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Brefeldin A
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Peptide Hydrolases