An enzyme that appears to be directly involved in the early development of Alzheimer's disease. Beta-secretase is a protease (an enzyme that catalyses the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein). Beta-secretase acts by trimming off a protein protruding from a brain cell. This small snip is thought to be the first step in the buildup [..]

n. a protein enzyme (protease) which cleaves the amyloid precursor protein to form beta-amyloid. These are the peptides which build-up to create plaque in the walls of vessels and parenchymal tissues [..]

Enzyme that cleaves amyloid precursor protein forming beta amyloid that accumulates in the brain tissue that leads to Alzheimer disease.