BACE-1 (beta-secretase 1) is a peptidase that is responsible for the proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). It cleaves APP at the N-terminus of the A-beta peptide sequence, between residues 671 and 672 of APP, leads to the generation and extracellular release of beta-cleaved soluble APP, and a corresponding cell-associated C-terminal fragment which is later released by gamma-secretase. Amyloid beta peptides are the primary constituent within amyloid beta plaques (senile plaques), which accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Chemical inhibition of BACE-1 has been shown to reduce beta-amyloid in animal and human studies, making it a target of therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer’s Disease. References: Lancet Neurol. 2014 Mar; 13(3): 319–329; Transl Neurodegener. 2017; 6: 23.