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Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments.

Authors :
Scheres SH
Zhang W
Falcon B
Goedert M
Source :
Current opinion in structural biology [Curr Opin Struct Biol] 2020 Oct; Vol. 64, pp. 17-25. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jun 27.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Assembly of microtubule-associated protein tau into filamentous inclusions underlies many human neurodegenerative diseases, called tauopathies. Tau inclusions display distinct cellular and neuroanatomical distributions in different tauopathies. Morphological and biochemical differences suggest that tau filaments adopt disease-specific molecular conformers, similar to prion strains. Breakthroughs in electron cryo-microscopy have recently yielded atomic structures of tau filaments extracted from the brains of individuals with various tauopathies. Each disease is characterised by a unique tau filament fold, which is conserved among individuals with the same disease. In vitro aggregation yields different structures from those observed in brain. Tau isoform composition, post-translational modifications or interactions with cofactors may determine which structures are formed in brain. Understanding filament formation will be central to deciphering the molecular mechanisms that underlie human tauopathies.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1879-033X
Volume :
64
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Current opinion in structural biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
32603876
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2020.05.011