Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of three subtypes of a protease located in cell membranes of the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, a secretase (designated beta) degrades amyloid precursor proteins into fragments that accumulate to form beta-amyloid plaques.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry An enzyme that "snips" pieces off a longer protein that is embedded in the cell membrane.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a set of enzymes believed to snip pieces off a longer protein producing fragments of amyloid protein that bunch up and create amyloid protein plaques in brain tissue (the pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[secret(e) + –ase.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

secrete +‎ -ase

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Examples

  • Lilly's semagacestat aimed to slow or reverse the progression of Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting an enzyme called gamma secretase, which is important in building a sticky substance called amyloid that can clump in the brain.

    Failed Lilly Drug Prompts Concern Shirley S. Wang 2011

  • The mutations affect a protein called gamma-secretase, which is involved in the build-up of protein plaques in the brains of people

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2010

  • Lilly's drug was designed to reduce the body's production of the plaques by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme, called gamma secretase, that is believed to play an important role in formation of the plaque.

    AARP.org : 2010

  • The mutations affect a protein called gamma-secretase, which is involved in the build-up of protein plaques in the brains of people

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2010

  • The nicastrin protein is also a part of an enzyme called gamma-secretase, which is wedged in the cell’s membrane.

    Dallas Blog, Daily News, Dallas Politics, Opinion, and Commentary FrontBurner Blog D Magazine » Blog Archive » BIG NEWS ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S OUT OF UT SOUTHWESTERN 2005

  • There are other drugs in development that act more selectively or look to modulate the effect rather than block it, noted Dr. Siemers, but because of these data, "the hurdle's been raised" for gamma secretase inhibitors.

    Failed Lilly Drug Prompts Concern Shirley S. Wang 2011

  • Lilly's gamma secretase inhibitor was in late-stage development when the company said last August that patients taking the experimental drug in a clinical trial fared worse on cognitive symptoms than those taking a placebo.

    Failed Lilly Drug Prompts Concern Shirley S. Wang 2011

  • Other scientists said Lilly's data didn't yet drive the nail in the coffin for gamma secretase inhibitors.

    Failed Lilly Drug Prompts Concern Shirley S. Wang 2011

  • Another investigational drug that is likely to be of interest at the meeting is Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s gamma secretase inhibitor compound, BMS-708163, which is supposed to help prevent the formation of amyloid plaques.

    Alzheimer's Treatment Showcase Is Set Shirley S. Wang 2011

  • Last year, Lilly halted development of its gamma secretase inhibitor, semagacestat, after two phase III studies showed it didn't slow down the disease and was linked to worsening of cognitive symptoms.

    Alzheimer's Treatment Showcase Is Set Shirley S. Wang 2011

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