Background

The Integral membrane protein 2C (ITM2C) is a type II integral transmembrane protein belonging to a family composed of at least two other members, ITM2A and ITM2B. ITM2C, often called transmembrane protein BRI3, is highly expressed in brain tissue. Yeast two-hybrid screen system revealed that BRI3 could interact with beta-secretase beta-amyloid protein converting enzyme (BACE)1 and the microtubule-destabilizing protein SCG10 (STMN2). It may play a role in TNF-induced cell death and neuronal differentiation. BRI3 was found to inhibit the various processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by blocking the access of alpha- and beta-secretases to APP, competitive inhibition of APP processing by BRI3 may provide a new approach to Alzheimer disease (AD) therapy and prevention.