Cell-free reconstitution of β -amyloid production and trafficking

The production of β -amyloid is one aspect of the metabolism of β APP. To achieve an effective understanding of this process, its must be considered in terms of both the enzymatic activities required for the proteolytic processing of β APP and the trafficking of β APP and its metabolites within the secretory pathway. Whole cells are often insufficient to elucidate the details of this process. We have therefore developed a cell-free reconstitution system for β -amyloid and β APP production and trafficking. This experimental system has allowed us to study the effects of adding or removing salient cellular factors and to focus on β APP processing as it occurs in various subcellular compartments.