Gamma secretase substrates and in vitro assays

摘要

The present invention features gamma-secretase substrates and in vitro assays for measuring gamma-secretase activity employing such substrates. The gamma-secretase substrates described herein contain a hydrophilic polypeptide moiety covalently joined to the carboxyl terminus of a beta-CTF domain. A "beta-CTF domain" is a polypeptide that can be cleaved by gamma-secretase and which approximates the C-terminal fragment (amino acids 596-695) of APP produced after cleavage of APP by a beta-secretase, or is a functional derivative thereof.