Tau ELISA Kit for Human, Mouse, Rat

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: 17q21.31

Cellular Component: axolemma; axon; axon cytoplasm; cell body; cell soma; cytoplasm; cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granule; cytosol; dendrite; growth cone; membrane; microtubule; microtubule associated complex; microtubule cytoskeleton; nuclear periphery; nuclear speck; nucleus; plasma membrane; somatodendritic compartment; tubulin complex

Molecular Function: actin binding; apolipoprotein binding; DNA binding; enzyme binding; Hsp90 protein binding; identical protein binding; lipoprotein particle binding; microtubule binding; protein binding; protein homodimerization activity; protein phosphatase 2A binding; receptor ligand activity; SH3 domain binding

Biological Process: activation of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity involved in apoptotic process; amyloid fibril formation; astrocyte activation; axonal transport; axonal transport of mitochondrion; cellular response to heat; cytoplasmic microtubule organization; generation of neurons; intracellular distribution of mitochondria; memory; microglial cell activation; microtubule cytoskeleton organization; negative regulation of gene expression; negative regulation of kinase activity; negative regulation of mitochondrial fission; negative regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential; neuron projection development; plus-end-directed organelle transport along microtubule; positive regulation of axon extension; positive regulation of diacylglycerol kinase activity; positive regulation of microtubule polymerization; positive regulation of neuron death; positive regulation of superoxide anion generation; protein oligomerization; regulation of autophagy; regulation of cellular response to heat; regulation of microtubule polymerization; regulation of microtubule polymerization or depolymerization; regulation of mitochondrial fission; regulation of receptor activity; regulation of response to DNA damage stimulus; synapse organization

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