CutA Protein, Human (His)

CUTA protein is a membrane anchor protein of mammalian brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and is a trimeric protein that may form part of a membrane protein complex attached to acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Human CUTA is homologous to the bacterial CutA1 protein and is a divalent cation-tolerant homolog. Expression of longer CutA variants reduces AChE levels, an effect that depends on possible misfolding of the AChE C-terminal peptide. CutA increases secretion of mutants with a KDEL motif at the C terminus; it also increases AChE homotetramer formation. Longer CutA variants may affect secreted protein processing and trafficking, whereas shorter CutA variants may have unique functions in the cytoplasm. For example, CUTA proteins interact with β-secretase β-site APP cleavage 1 (BACE1) and inhibit APP β processing and Aβ production. Copper treatment promoted the increase in Aβ secretion induced by CUTA downregulation but had no effect on the CUTA-β site APP lyase 1 interaction. Therefore, indicating the mutual regulation of copper and CUTA, both regulate Aβ production through different mechanisms.