Tau protein

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Tau Protein

Tau protein (pronounced /taʊ/) is a protein that stabilizes microtubules. It is abundant in neurons of the central nervous system and is less common elsewhere. When this protein is defective, it can result in several neurodegetic disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Etymology

The term "tau" was derived from the Greek letter "τ" (tau), used as a symbol for the protein. It was named this way because it is the eighth protein to be discovered in a microtubule.

Function

Tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein. Microtubules are part of the cell's cytoskeleton, and they help to stabilize and maintain cell structure. Tau proteins bind to microtubules and stabilize them against disassembly. They are abundant in neurons, where they help to maintain the structure of axons and regulate axonal transport.

Related Terms

  • Microtubule: A microscopic tubular structure present in numbers in the cytoplasm of cells, sometimes aggregating to form more complex structures.
  • Neuron: A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
  • Axon: A long, threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.
  • Alzheimer's disease: A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.

Disorders

Defects in tau protein can lead to a variety of disorders, known collectively as tauopathies. These include Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, and frontotemporal dementia. In these conditions, tau proteins become defective and can no longer stabilize microtubules properly. This leads to a breakdown in the normal functioning of neurons.

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