DatasheetSDS

Tau proteins are the products of alternative splicing of single gene MAPT (microtubule-associated protein tau) which is found on chromosome 17 in humans. The main function of Tau proteins is to modulate the stability of axonal microtubules. Tau proteins interact with tubulin to stabilize microtubules and also promote tubulin assembly into microtubules. Mutations that alter their function and isoforms lead to hyper-phosphorylation, which in turn disassembles microtubules and hides away normal tau, MAP 1, MAP 2, and ubiquitin into neurofibrillary tangles, which are composed of paired helical filaments (PHF) leading to neurodegenerative diseases and cell death. Tau proteins are expressed abundantly in neurons of the central nervous system but very low levels in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.