Related Experiment Videos
Microtubule-associated protein tau. A component of Alzheimer paired helical filaments
Abstract:
Microtubule-associated protein tau was purified from bovine brain microtubules by either (1) phosphocellulose chromatography, (2) heat treatment at pH 6.4, (3) heat treatment at pH 2.7, (4) heat treatment at pH 2.7 followed by extraction with perchloric acid and precipitation with glycerol, or (5) by precipitation with ammonium sulfate followed by extraction with perchloric acid. All of these tau preparations reacted specifically with antibodies to Alzheimer paired helical filaments. Affinity purified antibodies to tau labeled both Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles and plaque neurites but not amyloid in Alzheimer brain tissue sections and labeled paired helical filament polypeptides on Western blots. Human brain tau and paired helical filament polypeptides co-migrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. These results suggest that tau is a major component of Alzheimer paired helical filaments.
Insights
Tau protein, a key component of brain microtubules, was purified using various methods. These tau preparations specifically reacted with Alzheimer
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is crucial for microtubule stability.
- Abnormal tau aggregation into paired helical filaments (PHFs) is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To purify and characterize microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) from bovine brain.
- To investigate the relationship between purified tau and Alzheimer's disease-associated paired helical filaments (PHFs).
Main Methods:
- Purification of tau protein using phosphocellulose chromatography and various heat treatment/extraction methods.
- Immunological characterization using antibodies specific to Alzheimer's PHFs and tau.
- Biochemical analysis including Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.
Main Results:
- All purified tau preparations specifically reacted with antibodies against Alzheimer's PHFs.
- Anti-tau antibodies labeled neurofibrillary tangles and neurites in Alzheimer's brain tissue.
- Purified human brain tau and PHF polypeptides exhibited similar migration patterns on SDS-PAGE.
Conclusions:
- Tau is a major component of Alzheimer's paired helical filaments.
- These findings support the role of tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease progression.