Human TAU^P301L overexpression results in TAU hyperphosphorylation without neurofibrillary tangles in adult zebrafish brain.

ABSTRACT: Microtubule-associated TAU protein is a pathological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD), where hyperphosphorylation of TAU generates neurofibrillary tangles. To investigate the effects of TAU in a regenerative adult vertebrate brain system, we generated a cre/lox-based transgenic model of zebrafish that chronically expresses human TAU^P301L, which is a variant of human TAU protein that forms neurofibrillary tangles in mouse models and humans. Interestingly, we found that although chronic and abundant expression of TAU^P301L starting from early embryonic development led to hyperphosphorylation, TAU^P301L did not form oligomers and neurofibrillary tangles, and did not cause elevated apoptosis and microglial activation, which are classical symptoms of tauopathi

SUBMITTER: Cosacak MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5636889 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature