Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
12:55
Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Published on: October 10, 2017
9.5K
mTor mediates tau localization and secretion: Implication for Alzheimer's disease
Zhi Tang1, Eniko Ioja2, Erika Bereczki2
1Karolinska Institutet, NVS Department, Centrum for Alzheimer Research, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Novum, SE 14186 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|March 21, 2015
Summary
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor) signaling influences the distribution and phosphorylation of tau protein. Aberrant mTor activity affects tau localization in cellular organelles and its secretion, potentially contributing to Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation forms neurofibrillary tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau levels are observed in AD patients.
- Aberrant mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor) signaling is implicated in tau hyperphosphorylation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mTor in the intracellular distribution and secretion of tau.
- To examine the relationship between mTor activity and tau phosphorylation status.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of tau localization in post-mortem human AD brain tissue.
- Study of tau synthesis, distribution, and phosphorylation in human neuroblastoma cells with varying mTor expression.
- Assessment of tau re-localization and secretion under different mTor activity levels.
Main Results:
- Tau was found in various organelles, including mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, in human AD brains.
- Altered mTor expression (overexpression or deficiency) in SH-SY5Y cells led to an imbalance of phosphorylated (p-) and non-phosphorylated (Np-) tau.
- Increased mTor activity promoted tau accumulation in the cytoplasm and its secretion via exocytotic vesicles.
Conclusions:
- mTor signaling plays a critical role in regulating tau's subcellular distribution.
- mTor influences the initiation of tau secretion from cells into the extracellular space.
- These findings suggest mTor as a potential therapeutic target for tauopathies like AD.
Related Concept Videos
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
5.1K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
5.1K
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
1.8K
1.8K
01:22PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
6.5K
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast, mTORC2 consists of a...
6.5K
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
2.0K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
2.0K
01:42Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)
6.4K
Microtubule function and architecture are regulated by an array of specialized proteins called microtubule-associated proteins or MAPs. These proteins are widespread across different organisms and have conserved protein motifs, like the multi-TOG domain for tubulin binding found in the CLASP family of MAPs. Some MAPs are lineage-specific based on their conserved domains. Their functions depend upon the cytoskeletal architecture and cell type they are located within. In-plant cells, a specific...
6.4K
02:17Microtubule Instability
6.5K
Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated...
6.5K