Protein name:
It plays significant roles both when intact or when broken into pieces which is why many functions of APP are still being discovered and studied. When the protein is intact, it sends signals through a G-Protein system. In other words it becomes a receptor protein and binds to other structural molecules outside of the cells. When it binds to heparin and laminin, it plays a role in cell adhesion.
The protein can also be broken up into fragments by proteases called secretases. Secretase cuts the sides of the small peptides in APP. One of the pieces (the larger piece) then is released outside of the cell and helps control the growth of nerves and the other piece (the smaller one) is taken into the cell where it plays a role in the nucleus with protein-synthesis. The middle piece however , is the one that plays the BIGGEST role in Alzheimer's disease.
Amyloid-beta Precursor Protein
Amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) is large membranous protein that normally plays an important role in neural growth and repair. However, the corrupted form, (with the evil alter ego), can destroy nerve cells which leads to Alzheimer's disease.
APP has many different functions and is normally found on the surface of cells in the body. It is connected to few domains by flexible linkers which make it hard to study due to it's structure.
It plays significant roles both when intact or when broken into pieces which is why many functions of APP are still being discovered and studied. When the protein is intact, it sends signals through a G-Protein system. In other words it becomes a receptor protein and binds to other structural molecules outside of the cells. When it binds to heparin and laminin, it plays a role in cell adhesion.
The protein can also be broken up into fragments by proteases called secretases. Secretase cuts the sides of the small peptides in APP. One of the pieces (the larger piece) then is released outside of the cell and helps control the growth of nerves and the other piece (the smaller one) is taken into the cell where it plays a role in the nucleus with protein-synthesis. The middle piece however , is the one that plays the BIGGEST role in Alzheimer's disease. 
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