Loss of Tau results in defects in photoreceptor development and progressive neuronal degeneration in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Accumulations of Tau, a microtubule-associated protein (MAP), into neurofibrillary tangles is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. However, the mechanisms leading to this pathology are still unclear: the aggregates themselves could be toxic or the sequestration of Tau into tangles might prevent Tau from fulfilling its normal functions, thereby inducing a loss of function defect. Surprisingly, the consequences of losing normal Tau expression in vivo are still not well understood, in part due to the fact that Tau knockout mice show only subtle phenotypes, presumably due to the fact that mammals express several MAPs with partially overlapping functions. In contrast, flies express fewer MAP, with Tau being the only member of the Tau/MAP2/MAP4 family. Therefore, we used Dros

SUBMITTER: Bolkan BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4212004 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature