7sp1

Structural highlights

Disease

TAU_HUMAN Note=In Alzheimer disease, the neuronal cytoskeleton in the brain is progressively disrupted and replaced by tangles of paired helical filaments (PHF) and straight filaments, mainly composed of hyperphosphorylated forms of TAU (PHF-TAU or AD P-TAU). O-GlcNAcylation is greatly reduced in Alzheimer disease brain cerebral cortex leading to an increase in TAU/MAPT phosphorylations.^{[1] [2] [3]} Defects in MAPT are a cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) [MIM:600274; also called frontotemporal dementia (FTD), pallido-ponto-nigral degeneration (PPND) or historically termed Pick complex. This form of frontotemporal dementia is characterized by presenile dementia with behavioral changes, deterioration of cognitive capacities and loss of memory. In some cases, parkinsonian symptoms are prominent. Neuropathological changes include frontotemporal atrophy often associated with atrophy of the basal ganglia, substantia nigra, amygdala. In most cases, protein tau deposits are found in glial cells and/or neurons.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]} Defects in MAPT are a cause of Pick disease of the brain (PIDB) [MIM:172700. It is a rare form of dementia pathologically defined by severe atrophy, neuronal loss and gliosis. It is characterized by the occurrence of tau-positive inclusions, swollen neurons (Pick cells) and argentophilic neuronal inclusions known as Pick bodies that disproportionally affect the frontal and temporal cortical regions. Clinical features include aphasia, apraxia, confusion, anomia, memory loss and personality deterioration.^{[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]} Note=Defects in MAPT are a cause of corticobasal degeneration (CBD). It is marked by extrapyramidal signs and apraxia and can be associated with memory loss. Neuropathologic features may overlap Alzheimer disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Parkinson disease.^{[37] [38] [39]} Defects in MAPT are a cause of progressive supranuclear palsy type 1 (PSNP1) [MIM:601104; also abbreviated as PSP and also known as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome. PSNP1 is characterized by akinetic-rigid syndrome, supranuclear gaze palsy, pyramidal tract dysfunction, pseudobulbar signs and cognitive capacities deterioration. Neurofibrillary tangles and gliosis but no amyloid plaques are found in diseased brains. Most cases appear to be sporadic, with a significant association with a common haplotype including the MAPT gene and the flanking regions. Familial cases show an autosomal dominant pattern of transmission with incomplete penetrance; genetic analysis of a few cases showed the occurrence of tau mutations, including a deletion of Asn-613.^{[40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48]} Defects in MAPT are a cause of Parkinson-dementia syndrome (PARDE) [MIM:260540. A syndrome characterized by parkinsonism tremor, rigidity, dementia, ophthalmoparesis and pyramidal signs. Neurofibrillary degeneration occurs in the hippocampus, basal ganglia and brainstem nuclei.^{[49] [50] [51]}

Function

TAU_HUMAN Promotes microtubule assembly and stability, and might be involved in the establishment and maintenance of neuronal polarity. The C-terminus binds axonal microtubules while the N-terminus binds neural plasma membrane components, suggesting that tau functions as a linker protein between both. Axonal polarity is predetermined by TAU/MAPT localization (in the neuronal cell) in the domain of the cell body defined by the centrosome. The short isoforms allow plasticity of the cytoskeleton whereas the longer isoforms may preferentially play a role in its stabilization.^[52]

See Also

• Microtubule-associated protein 3D structures
• Tau protein 3D structures

References

1. ↑ Liu F, Shi J, Tanimukai H, Gu J, Gu J, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Gong CX. Reduced O-GlcNAcylation links lower brain glucose metabolism and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Jul;132(Pt 7):1820-32. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp099. Epub 2009 May 18. PMID:19451179 doi:10.1093/brain/awp099
2. ↑ Goedert M, Spillantini MG, Jakes R, Rutherford D, Crowther RA. Multiple isoforms of human microtubule-associated protein tau: sequences and localization in neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease. Neuron. 1989 Oct;3(4):519-26. PMID:2484340
3. ↑ Rademakers R, Dermaut B, Peeters K, Cruts M, Heutink P, Goate A, Van Broeckhoven C. Tau (MAPT) mutation Arg406Trp presenting clinically with Alzheimer disease does not share a common founder in Western Europe. Hum Mutat. 2003 Nov;22(5):409-11. PMID:14517953 doi:10.1002/humu.10269
4. ↑ Liu F, Shi J, Tanimukai H, Gu J, Gu J, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Gong CX. Reduced O-GlcNAcylation links lower brain glucose metabolism and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Jul;132(Pt 7):1820-32. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp099. Epub 2009 May 18. PMID:19451179 doi:10.1093/brain/awp099
5. ↑ Goedert M, Spillantini MG, Jakes R, Rutherford D, Crowther RA. Multiple isoforms of human microtubule-associated protein tau: sequences and localization in neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease. Neuron. 1989 Oct;3(4):519-26. PMID:2484340
6. ↑ Rademakers R, Dermaut B, Peeters K, Cruts M, Heutink P, Goate A, Van Broeckhoven C. Tau (MAPT) mutation Arg406Trp presenting clinically with Alzheimer disease does not share a common founder in Western Europe. Hum Mutat. 2003 Nov;22(5):409-11. PMID:14517953 doi:10.1002/humu.10269
7. ↑ Poorkaj P, Bird TD, Wijsman E, Nemens E, Garruto RM, Anderson L, Andreadis A, Wiederholt WC, Raskind M, Schellenberg GD. Tau is a candidate gene for chromosome 17 frontotemporal dementia. Ann Neurol. 1998 Jun;43(6):815-25. PMID:9629852 doi:10.1002/ana.410430617
8. ↑ Dumanchin C, Camuzat A, Campion D, Verpillat P, Hannequin D, Dubois B, Saugier-Veber P, Martin C, Penet C, Charbonnier F, Agid Y, Frebourg T, Brice A. Segregation of a missense mutation in the microtubule-associated protein tau gene with familial frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism. Hum Mol Genet. 1998 Oct;7(11):1825-9. PMID:9736786
9. ↑ Hutton M, Lendon CL, Rizzu P, Baker M, Froelich S, Houlden H, Pickering-Brown S, Chakraverty S, Isaacs A, Grover A, Hackett J, Adamson J, Lincoln S, Dickson D, Davies P, Petersen RC, Stevens M, de Graaff E, Wauters E, van Baren J, Hillebrand M, Joosse M, Kwon JM, Nowotny P, Che LK, Norton J, Morris JC, Reed LA, Trojanowski J, Basun H, Lannfelt L, Neystat M, Fahn S, Dark F, Tannenberg T, Dodd PR, Hayward N, Kwok JB, Schofield PR, Andreadis A, Snowden J, Craufurd D, Neary D, Owen F, Oostra BA, Hardy J, Goate A, van Swieten J, Mann D, Lynch T, Heutink P. Association of missense and 5'-splice-site mutations in tau with the inherited dementia FTDP-17. Nature. 1998 Jun 18;393(6686):702-5. PMID:9641683 doi:10.1038/31508
10. ↑ Clark LN, Poorkaj P, Wszolek Z, Geschwind DH, Nasreddine ZS, Miller B, Li D, Payami H, Awert F, Markopoulou K, Andreadis A, D'Souza I, Lee VM, Reed L, Trojanowski JQ, Zhukareva V, Bird T, Schellenberg G, Wilhelmsen KC. Pathogenic implications of mutations in the tau gene in pallido-ponto-nigral degeneration and related neurodegenerative disorders linked to chromosome 17. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Oct 27;95(22):13103-7. PMID:9789048
11. ↑ Rizzu P, Van Swieten JC, Joosse M, Hasegawa M, Stevens M, Tibben A, Niermeijer MF, Hillebrand M, Ravid R, Oostra BA, Goedert M, van Duijn CM, Heutink P. High prevalence of mutations in the microtubule-associated protein tau in a population study of frontotemporal dementia in the Netherlands. Am J Hum Genet. 1999 Feb;64(2):414-21. PMID:9973279 doi:10.1086/302256
12. ↑ Sperfeld AD, Collatz MB, Baier H, Palmbach M, Storch A, Schwarz J, Tatsch K, Reske S, Joosse M, Heutink P, Ludolph AC. FTDP-17: an early-onset phenotype with parkinsonism and epileptic seizures caused by a novel mutation. Ann Neurol. 1999 Nov;46(5):708-15. PMID:10553987
13. ↑ Nacharaju P, Lewis J, Easson C, Yen S, Hackett J, Hutton M, Yen SH. Accelerated filament formation from tau protein with specific FTDP-17 missense mutations. FEBS Lett. 1999 Mar 26;447(2-3):195-9. PMID:10214944
14. ↑ Bugiani O, Murrell JR, Giaccone G, Hasegawa M, Ghigo G, Tabaton M, Morbin M, Primavera A, Carella F, Solaro C, Grisoli M, Savoiardo M, Spillantini MG, Tagliavini F, Goedert M, Ghetti B. Frontotemporal dementia and corticobasal degeneration in a family with a P301S mutation in tau. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1999 Jun;58(6):667-77. PMID:10374757
15. ↑ Yasuda M, Kawamata T, Komure O, Kuno S, D'Souza I, Poorkaj P, Kawai J, Tanimukai S, Yamamoto Y, Hasegawa H, Sasahara M, Hazama F, Schellenberg GD, Tanaka C. A mutation in the microtubule-associated protein tau in pallido-nigro-luysian degeneration. Neurology. 1999 Sep 11;53(4):864-8. PMID:10489057
16. ↑ Iijima M, Tabira T, Poorkaj P, Schellenberg GD, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VM, Schmidt ML, Takahashi K, Nabika T, Matsumoto T, Yamashita Y, Yoshioka S, Ishino H. A distinct familial presenile dementia with a novel missense mutation in the tau gene. Neuroreport. 1999 Feb 25;10(3):497-501. PMID:10208578
17. ↑ Lippa CF, Zhukareva V, Kawarai T, Uryu K, Shafiq M, Nee LE, Grafman J, Liang Y, St George-Hyslop PH, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VM. Frontotemporal dementia with novel tau pathology and a Glu342Val tau mutation. Ann Neurol. 2000 Dec;48(6):850-8. PMID:11117541
18. ↑ Arima K, Kowalska A, Hasegawa M, Mukoyama M, Watanabe R, Kawai M, Takahashi K, Iwatsubo T, Tabira T, Sunohara N. Two brothers with frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism with an N279K mutation of the tau gene. Neurology. 2000 May 9;54(9):1787-95. PMID:10802785
19. ↑ Yasuda M, Yokoyama K, Nakayasu T, Nishimura Y, Matsui M, Yokoyama T, Miyoshi K, Tanaka C. A Japanese patient with frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism by a tau P301S mutation. Neurology. 2000 Oct 24;55(8):1224-7. PMID:11071507
20. ↑ Iseki E, Matsumura T, Marui W, Hino H, Odawara T, Sugiyama N, Suzuki K, Sawada H, Arai T, Kosaka K. Familial frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism with a novel N296H mutation in exon 10 of the tau gene and a widespread tau accumulation in the glial cells. Acta Neuropathol. 2001 Sep;102(3):285-92. PMID:11585254
21. ↑ Connell JW, Gibb GM, Betts JC, Blackstock WP, Gallo J, Lovestone S, Hutton M, Anderton BH. Effects of FTDP-17 mutations on the in vitro phosphorylation of tau by glycogen synthase kinase 3beta identified by mass spectrometry demonstrate certain mutations exert long-range conformational changes. FEBS Lett. 2001 Mar 23;493(1):40-4. PMID:11278002
22. ↑ Tsuboi Y, Baker M, Hutton ML, Uitti RJ, Rascol O, Delisle MB, Soulages X, Murrell JR, Ghetti B, Yasuda M, Komure O, Kuno S, Arima K, Sunohara N, Kobayashi T, Mizuno Y, Wszolek ZK. Clinical and genetic studies of families with the tau N279K mutation (FTDP-17). Neurology. 2002 Dec 10;59(11):1791-3. PMID:12473774
23. ↑ Hayashi S, Toyoshima Y, Hasegawa M, Umeda Y, Wakabayashi K, Tokiguchi S, Iwatsubo T, Takahashi H. Late-onset frontotemporal dementia with a novel exon 1 (Arg5His) tau gene mutation. Ann Neurol. 2002 Apr;51(4):525-30. PMID:11921059
24. ↑ Yoshida H, Crowther RA, Goedert M. Functional effects of tau gene mutations deltaN296 and N296H. J Neurochem. 2002 Feb;80(3):548-51. PMID:11906000
25. ↑ Saito Y, Geyer A, Sasaki R, Kuzuhara S, Nanba E, Miyasaka T, Suzuki K, Murayama S. Early-onset, rapidly progressive familial tauopathy with R406W mutation. Neurology. 2002 Mar 12;58(5):811-3. PMID:11889249
26. ↑ Kobayashi T, Ota S, Tanaka K, Ito Y, Hasegawa M, Umeda Y, Motoi Y, Takanashi M, Yasuhara M, Anno M, Mizuno Y, Mori H. A novel L266V mutation of the tau gene causes frontotemporal dementia with a unique tau pathology. Ann Neurol. 2003 Jan;53(1):133-7. PMID:12509859 doi:10.1002/ana.10447
27. ↑ Yasuda M, Nakamura Y, Kawamata T, Kaneyuki H, Maeda K, Komure O. Phenotypic heterogeneity within a new family with the MAPT p301s mutation. Ann Neurol. 2005 Dec;58(6):920-8. PMID:16240366 doi:10.1002/ana.20668
28. ↑ Zarranz JJ, Ferrer I, Lezcano E, Forcadas MI, Eizaguirre B, Atares B, Puig B, Gomez-Esteban JC, Fernandez-Maiztegui C, Rouco I, Perez-Concha T, Fernandez M, Rodriguez O, Rodriguez-Martinez AB, de Pancorbo MM, Pastor P, Perez-Tur J. A novel mutation (K317M) in the MAPT gene causes FTDP and motor neuron disease. Neurology. 2005 May 10;64(9):1578-85. PMID:15883319 doi:10.1212/01.WNL.0000160116.65034.12
29. ↑ Liu F, Shi J, Tanimukai H, Gu J, Gu J, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Gong CX. Reduced O-GlcNAcylation links lower brain glucose metabolism and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Jul;132(Pt 7):1820-32. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp099. Epub 2009 May 18. PMID:19451179 doi:10.1093/brain/awp099
30. ↑ Goedert M, Spillantini MG, Jakes R, Rutherford D, Crowther RA. Multiple isoforms of human microtubule-associated protein tau: sequences and localization in neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease. Neuron. 1989 Oct;3(4):519-26. PMID:2484340
31. ↑ Rademakers R, Dermaut B, Peeters K, Cruts M, Heutink P, Goate A, Van Broeckhoven C. Tau (MAPT) mutation Arg406Trp presenting clinically with Alzheimer disease does not share a common founder in Western Europe. Hum Mutat. 2003 Nov;22(5):409-11. PMID:14517953 doi:10.1002/humu.10269
32. ↑ Murrell JR, Spillantini MG, Zolo P, Guazzelli M, Smith MJ, Hasegawa M, Redi F, Crowther RA, Pietrini P, Ghetti B, Goedert M. Tau gene mutation G389R causes a tauopathy with abundant pick body-like inclusions and axonal deposits. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1999 Dec;58(12):1207-26. PMID:10604746
33. ↑ Pickering-Brown S, Baker M, Yen SH, Liu WK, Hasegawa M, Cairns N, Lantos PL, Rossor M, Iwatsubo T, Davies Y, Allsop D, Furlong R, Owen F, Hardy J, Mann D, Hutton M. Pick's disease is associated with mutations in the tau gene. Ann Neurol. 2000 Dec;48(6):859-67. PMID:11117542
34. ↑ Rizzini C, Goedert M, Hodges JR, Smith MJ, Jakes R, Hills R, Xuereb JH, Crowther RA, Spillantini MG. Tau gene mutation K257T causes a tauopathy similar to Pick's disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2000 Nov;59(11):990-1001. PMID:11089577
35. ↑ Neumann M, Schulz-Schaeffer W, Crowther RA, Smith MJ, Spillantini MG, Goedert M, Kretzschmar HA. Pick's disease associated with the novel Tau gene mutation K369I. Ann Neurol. 2001 Oct;50(4):503-13. PMID:11601501
36. ↑ Rosso SM, van Herpen E, Deelen W, Kamphorst W, Severijnen LA, Willemsen R, Ravid R, Niermeijer MF, Dooijes D, Smith MJ, Goedert M, Heutink P, van Swieten JC. A novel tau mutation, S320F, causes a tauopathy with inclusions similar to those in Pick's disease. Ann Neurol. 2002 Mar;51(3):373-6. PMID:11891833
37. ↑ Liu F, Shi J, Tanimukai H, Gu J, Gu J, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Gong CX. Reduced O-GlcNAcylation links lower brain glucose metabolism and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Jul;132(Pt 7):1820-32. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp099. Epub 2009 May 18. PMID:19451179 doi:10.1093/brain/awp099
38. ↑ Goedert M, Spillantini MG, Jakes R, Rutherford D, Crowther RA. Multiple isoforms of human microtubule-associated protein tau: sequences and localization in neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease. Neuron. 1989 Oct;3(4):519-26. PMID:2484340
39. ↑ Rademakers R, Dermaut B, Peeters K, Cruts M, Heutink P, Goate A, Van Broeckhoven C. Tau (MAPT) mutation Arg406Trp presenting clinically with Alzheimer disease does not share a common founder in Western Europe. Hum Mutat. 2003 Nov;22(5):409-11. PMID:14517953 doi:10.1002/humu.10269
40. ↑ Liu F, Shi J, Tanimukai H, Gu J, Gu J, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Gong CX. Reduced O-GlcNAcylation links lower brain glucose metabolism and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Jul;132(Pt 7):1820-32. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp099. Epub 2009 May 18. PMID:19451179 doi:10.1093/brain/awp099
41. ↑ Goedert M, Spillantini MG, Jakes R, Rutherford D, Crowther RA. Multiple isoforms of human microtubule-associated protein tau: sequences and localization in neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease. Neuron. 1989 Oct;3(4):519-26. PMID:2484340
42. ↑ Rademakers R, Dermaut B, Peeters K, Cruts M, Heutink P, Goate A, Van Broeckhoven C. Tau (MAPT) mutation Arg406Trp presenting clinically with Alzheimer disease does not share a common founder in Western Europe. Hum Mutat. 2003 Nov;22(5):409-11. PMID:14517953 doi:10.1002/humu.10269
43. ↑ Higgins JJ, Adler RL, Loveless JM. Mutational analysis of the tau gene in progressive supranuclear palsy. Neurology. 1999 Oct 22;53(7):1421-4. PMID:10534245
44. ↑ Pastor P, Pastor E, Carnero C, Vela R, Garcia T, Amer G, Tolosa E, Oliva R. Familial atypical progressive supranuclear palsy associated with homozigosity for the delN296 mutation in the tau gene. Ann Neurol. 2001 Feb;49(2):263-7. PMID:11220749
45. ↑ Poorkaj P, Muma NA, Zhukareva V, Cochran EJ, Shannon KM, Hurtig H, Koller WC, Bird TD, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VM, Schellenberg GD. An R5L tau mutation in a subject with a progressive supranuclear palsy phenotype. Ann Neurol. 2002 Oct;52(4):511-6. PMID:12325083 doi:10.1002/ana.10340
46. ↑ Rossi G, Gasparoli E, Pasquali C, Di Fede G, Testa D, Albanese A, Bracco F, Tagliavini F. Progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease in a family with a new mutation in the tau gene. Ann Neurol. 2004 Mar;55(3):448. PMID:14991829 doi:10.1002/ana.20006
47. ↑ Oliva R, Pastor P. Tau gene delN296 mutation, Parkinson's disease, and atypical supranuclear palsy. Ann Neurol. 2004 Mar;55(3):448-9. PMID:14991828 doi:10.1002/ana.20025
48. ↑ Ros R, Thobois S, Streichenberger N, Kopp N, Sanchez MP, Perez M, Hoenicka J, Avila J, Honnorat J, de Yebenes JG. A new mutation of the tau gene, G303V, in early-onset familial progressive supranuclear palsy. Arch Neurol. 2005 Sep;62(9):1444-50. PMID:16157753 doi:62/9/1444
49. ↑ Liu F, Shi J, Tanimukai H, Gu J, Gu J, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Gong CX. Reduced O-GlcNAcylation links lower brain glucose metabolism and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Jul;132(Pt 7):1820-32. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp099. Epub 2009 May 18. PMID:19451179 doi:10.1093/brain/awp099
50. ↑ Goedert M, Spillantini MG, Jakes R, Rutherford D, Crowther RA. Multiple isoforms of human microtubule-associated protein tau: sequences and localization in neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease. Neuron. 1989 Oct;3(4):519-26. PMID:2484340
51. ↑ Rademakers R, Dermaut B, Peeters K, Cruts M, Heutink P, Goate A, Van Broeckhoven C. Tau (MAPT) mutation Arg406Trp presenting clinically with Alzheimer disease does not share a common founder in Western Europe. Hum Mutat. 2003 Nov;22(5):409-11. PMID:14517953 doi:10.1002/humu.10269
52. ↑ Yoshida H, Goedert M. Phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau by AMPK-related kinases. J Neurochem. 2012 Jan;120(1):165-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07523.x. Epub , 2011 Nov 11. PMID:21985311 doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07523.x
53. ↑ Abskharon R, Sawaya MR, Boyer DR, Cao Q, Nguyen BA, Cascio D, Eisenberg DS. Cryo-EM structure of RNA-induced tau fibrils reveals a small C-terminal core that may nucleate fibril formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Apr 12;119(15):e2119952119. PMID:35377792 doi:10.1073/pnas.2119952119