Proteolytic cleavage of the Amyloid protein precursor (APP) gives rise to the β-Amyloid and Amyloid A4 proteins, which are present in human platelets. Amyloid deposition is associated with type II diabetes, Down syndrome and a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. The Amyloid precursor protein (APP) undergoes alternative splicing, resulting in several isoforms. Proteolytic cleavage of APP leads to the formation of the Amyloid β/A4 Amyloid protein. This protein is involved in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and plaques that characterize the senile plaques of Alzheimer’s patients. APLP1 (Amyloid precursor-like protein 1) and APLP2 are structurally similar to APP. Human APLP2 is a membrane- bound sperm protein that contains a region highly homologous to the transmembrane-cytoplasmic domains of APP found in brain plaques of Alzheimer’s disease patients.
