What is Tau?

Tau (tubulin-associated unit) is normally a highly soluble protein of the central nervous system that stabilizes microtubules of healthy neurons. The microtubules help transport nutrients and other important substances from the cell body to the axon and dendrites.

Tau protein can undergo several post-translational modifications including hyperphosphorylation which is crucial to the formation of neurofibrillary pathology.

What are Neurofibrillary tangles?

In tauopathies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), hyperphosphorylation of tau protein leads to its dissociation from the microtubules. Then, the hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates and forms neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) which are insoluble fibers.

Studies have shown that soluble hyperphosphorylated tau oligomers are the most toxic form of tau, inducing synaptic dysfunction and cell death.

Tau pre-formed fibrils can be used to seed tau aggregation and induce tau pathology.

Tau and tangles research requires a great diversity of life science products. We are dedicated to developing cutting edge research products to aid in the study of tau and tangles in Alzheimer’s disease, including antibodies, fibrillized protein constructs, and small molecule inhibitors.