Amyloid precursor protein (APP) traffics from the cell surface via endosomes for amyloid β (Aβ) production in the trans-Golgi network

Abstract

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is processed sequentially by the β-site APP cleaving enzyme and γ-secretase to generate amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The intracellular location of Aβ production - endosomes or the trans-Golgi network (TGN) - remains uncertain. We investigated the role of different postendocytic trafficking events in Aβ40 production using an RNAi approach. Depletion of Hrs and Tsg101, acting early in the multivesicular body pathway, retained APP in early endosomes and reduced Aβ40 production. Conversely, depletion of CHMP6 and VPS4, acting late in the pathway, rerouted endosomal APP to the TGN for enhanced APP processing. We found that VPS35 (retromer)-mediated APP recycling to the TGN was required for efficient Aβ40 production. An interruption of the bidirectional trafficking of APP between the TGN and endosomes, particularly retromer-mediated retrieval of APP from early endosomes to the TGN, resulted in the accumulation of endocytosed APP in early endosomes with reduced APP processing. These data suggest that Aβ40 is generated predominantly in the TGN, relying on an endocytosed pool of APP recycled from early endosomes to the TGN.