Longitudinal CSF proteomics identifies NPTX2 as a prognostic biomarker of Alzheimer's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Biomarkers that reflect pathologic processes affecting neuronal function during preclinical and early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are needed to aid drug development. METHODS: A targeted, stable isotope, quantitative mass spectrometry-based investigation of longitudinal changes in concentrations of previously identified candidate biomarkers was performed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants who were classified as cognitively normal (CN; n = 76) or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 111) at baseline. RESULTS: Of the candidate biomarkers, the CSF concentration of neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2), a protein involved in synaptic function, exhibited rates of change that were significantly different between three comparison groups (i.e., CN vs. MCI participants; AD pathology positive vs. negative defined by phosphorylated tau181/amyloid beta1-42 ratio; and clinical progressors vs. non-progressors). The rate of change of NPTX2 also significantly correlated with declining cognition. DISCUSSION: CSF NPTX2 concentration is a strong prognostic biomarker candidate of accelerated cognitive decline with potential use as a therapeutic target.

Cks1-dependent proteasome recruitment and activation of CDC20 transcription in budding yeast.

Cks proteins are small evolutionarily conserved proteins that interact genetically and physically with cyclin-dependent kinases. However, in spite of a large body of genetic, biochemical and structural research, no compelling unifying model of their functions has emerged. Here we show, by investigating the essential role of Cks1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that the protein is primarily involved in promoting mitosis by modulating the transcriptional activation of the APC/C protein-ubiquitin ligase activator Cdc20. Cks1 is required for both the periodic dissociation of Cdc28 kinase from the CDC20 promoter and the periodic association of the proteasome with the promoter. We propose that the essential role of Cks1 is to recruit the proteasome to, and/or dissociate the Cdc28 kinase from, the CDC20 promoter, thus facilitating transcription by remodelling transcriptional complexes or chromatin associated with the CDC20 gene.