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Iron-responsive elements (IREs) are the RNA stem loops that control cellular iron homeostasis by regulating ferritin translation and transferrin receptor mRNA stability. We mapped a novel iron-responsive element (IRE-Type II) within the 5-untranslated region (5-UTR) of the Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein (APP) transcript (؉51 to ؉94 from the 5-cap site). The APP mRNA IRE is located immediately upstream of an interleukin-1 responsive acute box domain (؉101 to ؉146). APP 5-UTR conferred translation was selectively downregulated in response to intracellular iron chelation using three separate reporter assays (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, luciferase, and red fluorescent protein reflecting an inhibition of APP holoprotein translation in response to iron chelation. Iron influx reversed this inhibition. As an internal control to ensure specificity, a viral internal ribosome entry sequence was unresponsive to intracellular iron chelation with desferrioxamine. Using RNA mobility shift assays, the APP 5-UTRs, encompassing the IRE, bind specifically to recombinant iron-regulatory proteins (IRP) and to IRP from neuroblastoma cell lysates. IRP binding to the APP 5-UTR is reduced after treatment of cells with desferrioxamine and increased after interleukin-1 stimulation. IRP binding is abrogated when APP cRNA probe is mutated in the core IRE domain (⌬4 bases:⌬83AGAG86). Iron regulation of APP mRNA through the APP 5-UTR points to a role for iron in the metabolism of APP and confirms that this RNA structure can be a target for the selection of small molecule drugs, such as desferrioxamine (Fe chelator) and clioquinol (Fe, Cu, and Zn chelator), which reduce A␤ peptide burden during Alzheimer's disease. The amyloid precursor protein (APP)1 is cleaved into the 40 -42-amino acid A␤ peptides that constitute the main component of the neurotoxic amyloid plaques formed during the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down's syndrome (1, 2). In healthy individuals, APP holoprotein is expressed ubiquitously as a protein resembling a type I transmembrane receptor and metal-binding protein (3-6). Secreted APP (APP(s)) is neurotrophic (7).There are now several reports supporting an important role for translational regulatory mechanisms to control APP synthesis and probably A␤ peptide secretion in biologically relevant circumstances (8). First, interleukin-1 (IL-1), the first cytokine released during the acute phase response, significantly increases APP protein synthesis in astrocytes without altering APP mRNA levels (9). IL-1 acts by regulating APP and ferritin genes at the level of message translation (9). Second, reversible ischemic assault significantly increases APP levels without any alteration in the steady-state levels of APP mRNA in rabbit spinal cord neurons (10). Third, APP mRNA 3Ј-UTR sequences located between alternative poly(A) selection sites maintain efficient translation of microinjected APP in Xenopus oocytes and in Chinese hamster ovary transfectants (11).Iron-responsive elements (IREs) are RNA stem loops...

Like acetylcholinesterase , butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inactivates the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) and is hence a viable therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized by a cholinergic deficit. Potent, reversible, and brain-targeted BChE inhibitors (cymserine analogs) were developed based on binding domain structures to help elucidate the role of this enzyme in the central nervous system. In rats, cymserine analogs caused longterm inhibition of brain BChE and elevated extracellular ACh levels, without inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase. In rat brain slices, selective BChE inhibition augmented long-term potentiation. These compounds also improved the cognitive performance (maze navigation) of aged rats. In cultured human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells, intra-and extracellular ␤-amyloid precursor protein, and secreted ␤-amyloid peptide levels were reduced without affecting cell viability. Treatment of transgenic mice that overexpressed human mutant amyloid precursor protein also resulted in lower ␤-amyloid peptide brain levels than controls. Selective, reversible inhibition of brain BChE may represent a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, improving cognition and modulating neuropathological markers of the disease.anticholinesterase ͉ long-term potentiation ͉ dementia ͉ memory ͉ neurodegeneration