Alpha secretases are a family of proteolytic enzymes that cleave amyloid precursor protein (APP) in its transmembrane region. Specifically, alpha secretases cleave within the fragment that gives rise to the Alzheimer's disease-associated peptide amyloid beta when APP is instead processed by beta secretase and gamma secretase. The alpha-secretase pathway is the predominant APP processing pathway.
Alpha secretases are proteolytic enzymes that cut amyloid precursor protein (APP) in its transmembrane region, producing a segment associated with Alzheimer's disease. This process contrasts with the actions of beta and gamma secretases, which produce different peptides from APP. The alpha-secretase pathway is crucial for processing APP.