Shahani N, Brandt R
a Department of Neurobiology, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 11, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2002 Oct;59(10):1668-80. doi: 10.1007/pl00012495.
The tau proteins belong to the family of microtubule-associated proteins. They are mainly expressed in neurons where they play major regulatory roles in the organization and integrity of the cytoskeleton network. Neurofibrillary changes of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau are a key lesion in Alzheimer's disease and a number of other tauopathies. However, despite an ever-increasing body of data on the changes which tau undergoes in disease, its role regarding the fundamental disease process is still unclear. Moreover, conceptions of tau functions continue to evolve, which complicates an understanding of its role in the disease process. This review attempts to summarize data on the role of tau proteins in the context of both normal cellular function and dysfunction. Furthermore, we try to develop a mechanistic framework for the involvement of tau during the disease process. The review closes with a look towards various approaches to elucidate the functions and malfunctions of tau.
tau蛋白属于微管相关蛋白家族。它们主要在神经元中表达，在细胞骨架网络的组织和完整性方面发挥主要调节作用。异常过度磷酸化的tau蛋白的神经原纤维变化是阿尔茨海默病和许多其他tau蛋白病的关键病变。然而，尽管关于tau蛋白在疾病中发生变化的数据不断增加，但其在基本疾病过程中的作用仍不清楚。此外，tau蛋白功能的概念不断演变，这使得理解其在疾病过程中的作用变得复杂。本综述试图总结关于tau蛋白在正常细胞功能和功能障碍背景下作用的数据。此外，我们试图建立一个tau蛋白在疾病过程中参与机制的框架。综述最后展望了阐明tau蛋白功能和功能障碍的各种方法。
