Amyloid precursor protein protects neurons during nuclear waste disposal

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Researchers at Niigata University's Brain Research Institute have discovered a new protective function of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in neurons related to Alzheimer's disease. The study shows that APP helps expel damaged nuclear material from neurons via lysosomal exocytosis, offering new insights into AD pathology.

Researchers at Niigata University's Brain Research Institute have uncovered a new function of amyloid precursor protein (APP), a molecule long studied as the precursor to amyloid-β (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study demonstrates that APP actively protects neurons by expelling damaged nuclear material through a process called lysosomal exocytosis—offering a fundamentally new way of thinking about AD. The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.