The University of Tokyo

Perseus Proteomics Inc.

Nissan Chemical Industries Limited

Kowa Company Limited

Yasuomi Urano

Tatsuhiko Kodama

Takao Hamakubo

Masao Ohkuchi

Hiroko Iwanari

Taisuke Tomita

Takeshi Iwatsubo

Ikuo Hayashi

It is intended to provide an inhibitor for the formation of a &#x3b3;-secretase complex which comprises a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor or a protein geranylgeranylation regulator as the active ingredient; and use of a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor or a protein geranylgeranylation regulator for producing the same. It is also intended to provide a method of screening a substance having an effect of inhibiting the formation of an active complex of &#x3b3;-secretase which comprises assaying the activity of inhibiting cholesterol synthesis or quantifying cholesterol accumulated in lipid rafts in cells. It is also intended to provide a method of screening a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor, a protein geranylgeranylation regulator or an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor which comprises assaying the effect of inhibiting the formation of an active complex of &#x3b3;-secretase. Moreover, it is intended to provide a method of screening an effect of a test substance on &#x3b3;-secretase which comprises measuring the distribution of constituents (niscastrin, APH-1, Pen-2 and so on) required by &#x3b3;-secretase for the formation of its active complex in cells.

Inhibitor for the formation of gamma-secretase complex

To provide a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease and/or a cancer. The therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease and/or a cancer contains an anti-nicastrin antibody, a derivative of the antibody, or a fragment of the antibody or the derivative.

Therapeutic agents for alzheimer's disease and cancer

Growing community of inventors

Bunkyo-ku, Japan

Yasuomi Urano