Gamma-secretase inhibitors

Gamma-secretase inhibitors are pharmaceutical compounds designed to block the activity of the gamma-secretase enzyme complex, which plays a critical role in the cleavage of transmembrane proteins involved in various cellular signaling pathways. One of the most well-known substrates of gamma-secretase is the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is cleaved to produce amyloid-beta peptides implicated in Alzheimer's disease pathology. By inhibiting gamma-secretase, these inhibitors aim to reduce the production of amyloid-beta peptides, potentially slowing down the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain. However, gamma-secretase inhibitors can also affect the processing of other substrates, such as Notch receptors, which play essential roles in cellular differentiation and development.