Patent ID: 7285393

Claim:
An assay for identifying a test compound which interacts with the γ-secretase complex, and which would reduce the production of Aβ42 by the gamma secretase complex in vivo, said gamma secretase complex comprising PS1-NTF, PS1-CTF, and mature nicastrin, wherein the assay comprises the steps of: preparing a biochemical source of the γ-secretase complex; solubilizing the source; incubating the source and an affinity probe to form a first composition; incubating the source and an affinity probe and a test compound to form a second composition under the same incubating conditions for the first composition; capturing the gamma secretase complex bound to the affinity probe in the first and second compositions; determining the amount of PS1-NTF, PS1-CTF or mature nicastrin bound to the affinity probe in the first and second compositions; identifying a test compound that increases the level of binding of the affinity probe to PS1-NTF, PS1-CTF or mature nicastrin relative to the level of binding of the affinity probe to PS-1-NTF, PS1-CTF or mature nicastrin in the first composition; thereby identifying a test compound which interacts with the γ-secretase complex in a manner which would reduce the production of Aβ42 by the gamma secretase complex in vivo.