Characterization of the Glycosylation Profiles of Alzheimer's β-Secretase Protein Asp-2 Expressed in a Variety of Cell Lines

Amyloid 39-42 beta -peptides are the main components of amyloid plaques found in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients. Amyloid 39-42 beta -peptide is formed from amyloid precursor protein by the sequential action of beta -and gamma -secretases. Asp-2 is a transmembrane aspartic protease expressed in the brain, shown to have beta -secretase activity. Mature Asp-2 has four N-glycosylation sites. In this report we have characterized the carbohydrate structures in this glycoprotein expressed in three different cell lines, namely Chinese hamster ovary, CV-1 origin of SV40, and baculovirus-infected SF9 cells. Biantennary and triantennary oligosaccharides of the "complex" type were released from glycoprotein expressed in the mammalian cells, whereas mannose-rich glycans were identified from glycoprotein synthesized in the baculovirus-infected cells. Site-directed mutagenesis of the asparagine residues at amino acid positions 153, 172, 223, and 354 demonstrate that the protease activity of Asp-2 is dependent on its glycosylation.