Amyloid-beta (Aß) D7H mutation increases oligomeric Aß42 and alters properties of Aß-zinc/copper assemblies.

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutations associated with familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) usually lead to increases in amyloid ß-protein (Aß) levels or aggregation. Here, we identified a novel APP mutation, located within the Aß sequence (Aß(D7H)), in a Taiwanese family with early onset AD and explored the pathogenicity of this mutation. Cellular and biochemical analysis reveal that this mutation increased Aß production, Aß42/40 ratio and prolonged Aß42 oligomer state with higher neurotoxicity. Because the D7H mutant Aß has an additional metal ion-coordinating residue, histidine, we speculate that this mutation may promote susceptibility of Aß to ion. When co-incubated with Zn(2+) or Cu(2+), Aß(D7H) aggregated into low molecular weight oligomers. Together, the D7H mutation could contribute to AD pathology through a "double punch" effect on elevating both Aß production and oligomerization. Although the pathogenic nature of this mutation needs further confirmation, our findings suggest that the Aß N-terminal region potentially modulates APP processing and Aß aggregation, and further provides a genetic indication of the importance of Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) in the etiology of AD.