Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT) ELISA Kit for Human

This gene encodes the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) whose transcript undergoes complex, regulated alternative splicing, giving rise to several mRNA species. MAPT transcripts are differentially expressed in the nervous system, depending on stage of neuronal maturation and neuron type. MAPT gene mutations have been associated with several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, frontotemporal dementia, cortico-basal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Tau: a microtubule-associated protein that regulates microtubule assembly and stability. Apparently involved in the establishment and maintenance of neuronal polarity. Mutations can result in several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, frontotemporal dementia, cortico-basal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy. The C-terminus binds axonal microtubules while the N-terminus binds neural plasma membrane components, suggesting that tau functions as a linker. Axonal polarity is predetermined by tau localization (in the neuronal cell) in the domain of the cell body defined by the centrosome. Nine differentially spliced isoforms have been described. The short isoforms allow plasticity of the cytoskeleton, whereas the longer isoforms may preferentially play a role in its stabilization.

Protein type: Cytoskeletal

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 17q21.1

Cellular Component: axon; axoneme; cytosol; dendrite; growth cone; microtubule; microtubule associated complex; plasma membrane; postsynaptic density; tubulin complex

Molecular Function: apolipoprotein binding; enzyme binding; microtubule binding; protein binding; protein kinase binding; protein phosphatase 2A binding; SH3 domain binding; structural constituent of cytoskeleton

Biological Process: adult walking behavior; apoptosis; axon cargo transport; axon extension; brain development; cell structure disassembly during apoptosis; female pregnancy; generation of neurons; induction of apoptosis by oxidative stress; microtubule cytoskeleton organization and biogenesis; mitochondrion transport along microtubule; negative regulation of intracellular transport; neurite development; neuron migration; positive regulation of axon extension; positive regulation of microtubule polymerization; programmed cell death; regulation of autophagy; regulation of microtubule polymerization; response to nutrient; response to organic substance

Disease: Frontotemporal Dementia; Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration With Tdp43 Inclusions, Grn-related; Parkinson Disease, Late-onset; Parkinson-dementia Syndrome; Pick Disease Of Brain; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive, 1