31,179-00 AMYLOID PEPTIDE PRECURSOR RNA OF INVENTION A human amyloid peptide precursor RNA from the brains of persons afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome is described. The RNA is virtually absent from mouse or rat brain tissue yet is abundant in human brain tissue. A cDNA clone corresponding to the RNA predicts the existence of a 365 amino acid protein that is similar to the amino-terminal end of an amyloid peptide precursor previously described (APP 770), but lacks the beta-amyloid peptide or any hydrophobic transmembrane spanning domains. These features suggest that the human RNA codes for a soluble protein containing a Kunitz protease inhibitor.
AMYLOID PEPTIDE PRECURSOR RNA