微管相关蛋白tau与朊蛋白的相互作用

微管相关蛋白tau参与了许多神经退行性疾病的发生, 其中包括一些人类可传播性海绵状脑病. 为了探讨tau与朊蛋白(PrP)之间可能存在的关系, 首先通过GST pull-down和免疫共沉淀等技术发现重组tau蛋白可通过微管结合区与来源于正常叙利亚仓鼠脑组织中的正常细胞膜朊蛋白(PrP^C)和羊瘙痒因子263K感染仓鼠脑组织的异常朊蛋白(PrPSc)相结合. 利用免疫共沉淀实验发现在正常和羊瘙痒因子感染的仓鼠脑组织中存在tau蛋白与PrPC和PrPSc的相互作用, 并且利用激光共聚焦方法检测到PrP和tau蛋白在CHO细胞内具有共定位的关系. 为了确定PrP与tau蛋白相互作用的部位, 构建了不同区域的PrP片段, 从而证明PrP与tau蛋白相互作用的区域位于PrP的N端序列(23~91 aa). PrP与tau蛋白分子间相互作用的直接实验证据提示tau蛋白可能参与PrP的正常生理功能以及朊病毒病的病理过程.     

糖尿病大鼠脑GSK-3与PP-2A失调诱导tau蛋白过度磷酸化

探讨胰岛素缺乏的糖尿病大鼠皮层糖原合酶激酶-3(GSK-3)及蛋白磷酯酶-2A(PP-2A)变化及其对tau蛋白磷酸化的作用.用链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)建立胰岛素缺乏的糖尿病大鼠模型,用放射性配体结合实验检测了GSK-3和PP-2A的活性,蛋白质印迹检测了tau蛋白的磷酸化水平及PP-2A的表达.结果提示:在糖尿病大鼠皮层,GSK-3活性升高,PP-2A活性及表达降低,tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202和Ser396/Ser404位点磷酸化.应用GSK-3的选择性抑制剂Li2CO3后,GSK-3活性降低,PP-2A活性及表达恢复,tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202和Ser396/Ser404位点磷酸化水平降低.研究提示:糖尿病大鼠皮层GSK-3升高可能抑制PP-2A的活性,升高的GSK-3和降低的PP-2A协同促进tau蛋白的磷酸化.     

蛋白磷酸酯酶抑制剂冈田酸对人神经母细胞瘤 SK-N-SH细胞系tau蛋白磷酸化水平的影响

观察蛋白磷酸酯酶-1和蛋白磷酸酯酶-2A的抑制剂冈田酸(okadaicacid,OA)对人神经母细胞瘤系SK-N-SH细胞tau蛋白磷酸化水平的变化,确定tau蛋白过度磷酸化细胞模型的合适剂量和时间。用不同剂量OA与SK-N-SH细胞共温育不同时间,用显微镜观察细胞形态变化,用Western印迹法检测磷酸化tau蛋白和非磷酸化tau蛋白在Ser202位点和Ser404位点磷酸化水平的变化。10～160nmol/LOA与SK-N-SH神经细胞温育3～24h,可引起细胞形态损伤呈剂量依赖性和时间依赖性的变化,起效剂量和时间为10nmol/L和3h。10nmol/LOA与SK-N-SH细胞温育6～24h,磷酸化tau蛋白Ser199/Ser202位点和Ser404位点的表达明显增高,非磷酸化tau蛋白Ser202位点和Ser404位点的表达明显降低,总tau蛋白含量无明显变化。OA可以作为很好的研究tau蛋白过度磷酸化的工具药,10nmol/LOA与SK-N-SH神经细胞共温育6h可以作为制备细胞模型的适宜条件。     

褪黑素对异丙肾上腺素诱导大鼠tau蛋白过度磷酸化的预防作用

异常过度磷酸化的微管相关蛋白tau是阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)患者大脑中神经原纤维缠结的主要组成部分.迄今为止,尚无有效的措施阻止tau蛋白的过度磷酸化.为探讨褪黑素(melatonin,Mel)对AD样tau蛋白过度磷酸化的预防作用,我们以β受体激动剂异丙肾上腺素(isoproterenol,IP)来复制AD样tau蛋白过度磷酸化的动物模型,在大鼠双侧海马注射IP前,以褪黑素作为保护组药物,于腹腔连续注射5 d.应用磷酸化位点特异性抗体(PHF-1和Tau-1)作免疫印迹和免疫组织化学检测tau蛋白的磷酸化水平,并用非磷酸化依赖的总tau蛋白抗体(111e)进行标准化.免疫印迹结果显示在注射IP 48 h后,tau蛋白在PHF-1表位的免疫反应显著增强,在Tau-1表位显著减弱,表明tau蛋白在Ser396/Ser404(PHF-1)和Ser199/Ser202(Tau-1)位点有过度磷酸化.免疫组织化学染色结果与免疫印迹结果相似,主要检测到在大鼠海马CA3区的神经纤维有tau蛋白过度磷酸化.褪黑素预处理大鼠可有效地阻止IP诱导tau蛋白在Tau-1和PHF-1位点的过度磷酸化.上述结果提示褪黑素可预防大鼠脑组织中由异丙肾上腺素引起的AD样tau蛋白的过度磷酸化.     

微管相关蛋白tau在动物死亡后被快速去磷酸化

tau蛋白是神经细胞中主要的微管相关蛋白, 它的异常过度磷酸化被认为是阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 致病过程中的关键因素. 由于法律、社会、家庭等诸多因素使得获取的人脑组织标本常常在死亡后2~3 h以上,因此了解死亡不同时间后tau蛋白磷酸化的改变,对研究tau蛋白的功能及在AD致病过程中作用显得十分重要. 用位点特异的、磷酸化依赖的抗tau蛋白抗体检测正常大鼠脑中tau蛋白磷酸化程度及死亡后其磷酸化的变化情况,再用非同位素的点印迹技术测定鼠脑中tau蛋白激酶、磷酸酶在不同温度下的活性. 结果发现,正常鼠脑中tau蛋白除了Ser262,Ser409,Ser422外,在Thr181,Ser199,Ser202,Thr205,Thr212,Ser214,Thr217,Ser396和Ser404存在不同程度的磷酸化,并且在死亡后3 h,出现tau的多位点的去磷酸化及tau蛋白迁移加快,6 h后更为明显,但tau蛋白水平即使在大鼠死亡后6 h,仍未见有明显的改变. 用点印迹测定蛋白激酶和磷酸酶活性结果显示,tau蛋白激酶、磷酸酶活性均有温度依赖性降低,在25℃时激酶活性降低远大于磷酸酶活性的降低,tau蛋白在死亡后的快速去磷酸化与相对高的磷酸酶作用有关.     

糖尿病大鼠脑细胞周期依赖性蛋白激酶5和蛋白激酶A参与调节Tau蛋白磷酸化

细胞周期依赖性蛋白激酶5(cyclin-dependent kinase5,Cdk-5)及蛋白激酶A(protein kinaseA,PKA)是调节Tau蛋白磷酸化的重要激酶,其对糖尿病(diabetes mellitus,DM)大鼠脑内Tau蛋白磷酸化的作用如何,目前尚不明确.为探讨胰岛素缺乏的DM大鼠海马Cdk-5及PKA对Tau蛋白磷酸化的作用,用链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)建立DM大鼠模型,Fura-2负载及荧光测定细胞内游离Ca2 浓度,免疫沉淀法测定Cdk-5活性,放射性配体结合实验检测PKA的活性,蛋白质印迹检测Tau蛋白磷酸化的水平.结果提示:在DM大鼠海马神经元,Ca2 浓度升高,Cdk-5及PKA活性升高,Tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202和Ser396/Ser404位点的磷酸化增强.Cdk-5的特异性抑制剂roscovitine可降低DM大鼠Cdk-5活性,但不能降低PKA活性,使Tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202位点磷酸化水平降低,但不降低Ser396/Ser404位点的磷酸化,roscovitine处理正常大鼠后,上述酶的活性及Tau蛋白的磷酸化无明显变化.首次从整体水平上证实DM大鼠海马Cdk-5及PKA活性升高,协同促进Tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202位点和Ser396/Ser404位点的磷酸化,神经元内游离Ca2 浓度升高可能起重要作用.     

1型糖尿病葡萄糖代谢与胰岛素信号传导途径异常导致大鼠海马Alzheimer样tau蛋白过度磷酸化修饰

Tau蛋白过度磷酸化是Alzheimer病(Alzheimer disease, AD)的一个重要病理特征.采用 I 型糖尿病大鼠模型,研究胰岛素信号传导途径及葡萄糖代谢失调对tau蛋白过度磷酸化的形成机制进行探讨.以同龄Wistar大鼠做对照（CTL）,胰腺大部分切除造低胰岛素组（PX）,STZ较大剂量一次性注射造1型糖尿病模型即低胰岛素高血糖组（T1DM）.葡萄糖氧化酶法检测血浆血糖,放免法检测血浆胰岛素,蛋白质印迹分析海马内总tau蛋白及tau蛋白上部分位点（Ser199、Thr212、Ser214、Ser396及Ser422）的磷酸化及神经细胞膜上葡萄糖转运子3（Glucose transport 3,GLUT3）水平.γ-32P-ATP和特异性底物肽检测海马内胰岛素信号传导系统中的关键酶糖原合成酶激酶-3β（Glycogen synthase kinase-3β, GSK-3β）活性.发现3组大鼠海马回总tau蛋白水平无显著差异,但以高血糖、低胰岛素血症为特征的T1DM组在tau蛋白Ser199、Thr212、Ser214、Ser396及Ser422位点上,呈现过度磷酸化状态,以低胰岛素血症为特征而血糖正常的PX组在位点Ser199、Thr212及Ser396上磷酸化程度比CTL组显著上升, 在位点Ser214及 Ser422上的磷酸化程度的改变不显著;T1DM及PX组大鼠海马 GSK-3β活性显著高于CTL组, 而GLUT3水平在T1DM和PX组均降低, 尤以T1DM组降低更显著.研究结果显示,胰岛素水平低下可能通过激活GSK-3β和下调细胞内葡萄糖代谢的双重作用引起脑内tau蛋白过度磷酸化.     

微管相关蛋白tau在不同年龄大鼠海马内的定位分布特点

目的 检测微管相关蛋白tau和Ser396/404位点磷酸化tau在胚胎期大鼠和出生后直至成熟期大鼠海马内的表达及变化规律,浅析与神经细胞分裂和分化的关系.方法 用免疫组织化学SABC法显示孕18d、出生后1d、1w、2w、2m的大鼠脑冠状切面总tau（R134d）、Ser396/404位点磷酸化tau（PHF-1）的表达.结果 ①胚胎期大鼠海马CA区的锥体细胞数量明显多于出生后,随着脑的发育,锥体细胞层的神经细胞数量逐渐下降;②孕18d大鼠海马内有丰富的总tau和PHF-1 tau的表达,并且海马内各区的阳性物质表达均匀,生后1d和1w两种物质表达仍然很强,阳性产物主要分布在海马CA1和CA2区以锥体细胞轴突为主要成分的始层,在锥体细胞树突集中的分子层和胞核内也有少量分布,而在生后2w和2m大鼠海马内各区均未见密集的阳性产物表达.结论 不同年龄大鼠海马内总tau和PHF-1 tau的表达和分布变化可能与神经系统发育过程中细胞的分裂和分化有关.     

cdk-5过度表达对大鼠tau蛋白磷酸化及空间记忆的影响

Alzheimer病(AD)中, 异常过度磷酸化的tau蛋白会导致细胞骨架的异常并与神经元的死亡有关. 在体外, 细胞周期蛋白依赖性蛋白激酶5(cdk-5)能在大多数AD相关位点磷酸化tau蛋白. 旨在整体水平研究cdk-5过度表达对大鼠微管相关蛋白 tau的磷酸化及空间记忆的影响. 结果显示, 在大鼠海马区转染cdk-5基因, 24 h后其局部表达增加, 并使得抗体tau-1显色减弱, PHF-1和12e8显色增强, 提示tau蛋白在Ser199/202, Ser396/404和Ser262/356位点过度磷酸化. 此外, 在水迷宫测试中, cdk-5转染鼠寻找安全平台所需时间比对照鼠明显延长, 而转染后48 h cdk-5的表达较24 h时下降, 同时伴有tau蛋白磷酸化程度的下降和空间记忆能力的改善. 这些结果提示整体水平的cdk-5的过度表达会导致大鼠的空间记忆损伤, 而过度磷酸化的tau蛋白可能参与了该病理过程.     

糖元合成酶激酶3β对微管相关蛋白tau的磷酸化作用

tau蛋白是中枢神经系统中重要的微管相关蛋白,其功能受磷酸化调节.异常过度磷酸化的tau蛋白是阿尔茨海默病患者脑中神经纤维缠结的主要组成部分.糖元合成酶激酶3β(glycogen synthase kinase-3β,GSK-3β)是重要的tau蛋白激酶之一,它虽可催化tau蛋白多个位点的磷酸化,但对不同位点,其催化效率不同.通过位点特异性、磷酸化依赖的tau蛋白抗体,用免疫印迹技术,检测GSK-3β对tau蛋白位点特异性的磷酸化作用及动力学.用双倒数作图,计算GSK-3β催化tau磷酸化以及各个位点磷酸化的Km值,并结合培养细胞中的实验,研究GSK-3β对tau蛋白磷酸化作用的位点特异性.结果显示,GSK-3β催化tau蛋白多个位点的磷酸化,其中包括Thr181、Ser199、Ser202、Thr205、Thr212、Thr217、Thr231、Ser396和Ser404,对不同的位点磷酸化作用,其Km值不同,GSK-3β对Ser396的Km值最低,即对Ser396位点的亲和性最高,催化其磷酸化的能力最强.在培养的细胞中,也显示了GSK-3β的表达引起Ser396位点的磷酸化最明显.     

Direct analysis of tau from PSP brain identifies new phosphorylation sites and a major fragment of N-terminally cleaved tau containing four microtubule-binding repeats

Tangles containing hyperphosphorylated aggregates of insoluble tau are a pathological hallmark of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Several phosphorylation sites on tau in PSP have been identified using phospho-specific antibodies, but no sites have been determined by direct sequencing due to the difficulty in enriching insoluble tau from PSP brain. We describe a new method to enrich insoluble PSP-tau and report eight phosphorylation sites [Ser46, Thr181, Ser202, Thr217, Thr231, Ser235, Ser396/Ser400 (one site) and Thr403/Ser404 (one site)] identified by mass spectrometry. We also describe a 35 kDa C-terminal tau fragment (tau35), lacking the N-terminus of tau but containing four microtubule-binding repeats (4R), that is present only in neurodegenerative disorders in which 4R tau is over-represented. Tau35 was readily detectable in PSP, corticobasal degeneration and 4R forms of fronto-temporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17, but was absent from control, Alzheimer's disease and Pick's disease brain. Our findings suggest the aggregatory characteristics of PSP-tau differ from those of insoluble tau in Alzheimer's disease brain and this might be related to the presence of a C-terminal cleavage product of tau.     

Characterization of the in vitro phosphorylation of human tau by tau protein kinase II (cdk5/p20) using mass spectrometry

Hyperphosphorylated tau is an integral part of the neurofibrillary tangles that form within neuronal cell bodies, and tau protein kinase II is reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Recently, we reported that tau protein kinase II (cdk5/p20)-phosphorylated human tau inhibits microtubule assembly, and tau protein kinase II (cdk5/p20) phosphorylation of microtubule-associated tau results in dissociation of phosphorylated tau from the microtubules and tubulin depolymerization. In the studies reported here, a combination of mass spectrometric techniques was used to study the phosphorylation of human recombinant tau by recombinant tau protein kinase II (cdk5/p20) in vitro. The extent of phosphorylation was determined by measuring the molecular mass of phosphorylated tau using mass spectrometry. Reaction of human recombinant tau with tau protein kinase II (cdk5/p20) resulted in the formation of two major species containing either five or six phosphate groups. The specific amino acid residues phosphorylated were determined by analyzing tryptic peptides by tandem mass spectrometry via either MALDI/TOF post-source decay or by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Based on these experiments, we conclude that tau protein kinase II (cdk5/p20) can phosphorylate human tau at Thr(181), Thr(205), Thr(212), Thr(217), Ser(396) and Ser(404).     

Tau-tubulin kinase 1 (TTBK1), a neuron-specific tau kinase candidate, is involved in tau phosphorylation and aggregation

Neurofibrillary tangles, which are major pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), are composed of paired helical filaments (PHFs) containing hyperphosphorylated tau. Specific kinases regulate tau phosphorylation and are closely linked to the pathogenesis of AD. We have characterized a human tau-tubulin kinase 1 (TTBK1) gene located on chromosome 6p21.1. TTBK1 is a serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase that is conserved among species and belongs to the casein kinase 1 superfamily. It is specifically expressed in the brain, especially in the cytoplasm of cortical and hippocampal neurons. TTBK1 phosphorylates tau proteins in both a Mg2+- and a Mn2+-dependent manner. Phosphopeptide mapping and immunoblotting analysis confirmed a direct tau phosphorylation by TTBK1 at Ser198, Ser199, Ser202 and Ser422, which are also phosphorylated in PHFs. TTBK1 also induces tau aggregation in human neuronal cells in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that TTBK1 is a neuron-specific dual kinase involved in tau phosphorylation at AD-related sites and is also associated with tau aggregation.     

Acute anoxia induces tau dephosphorylation in rat brain slices and its possible underlying mechanisms

Abnormal phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau plays a critical role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), together with a distinct decrease of energy metabolism in the affected brain regions. To explore the effect of acute energy crisis on tau phosphorylation and the underlying mechanisms, we incubated rat brain slices in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) at 37 degrees C with or without an oxygen supply, or in aCSF with low glucose concentrations. Then, the levels of total, phosphorylated and unphosphorylated tau, as well as the activities and levels of protein phosphatase (PP)-1, PP-2A, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and C-jun amino terminal kinase (JNK), were measured. It was found, unexpectedly, that tau was significantly dephosphorylated at Ser396/Ser404 (PHF-1), Ser422 (R145), Ser199/Ser202 (Tau-1), Thr181 (AT270), Ser202/Thr205 (AT8) and Thr231 (AT180) by acute anoxia for 30 min or 120 min. The activity of PP-2A and the level of dephosphorylated PP-2A catalytic subunit at tyrosine 307 (Tyr307) were simultaneously increased. The active forms of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 were decreased under anoxic incubation. The PP-2A inhibitor, okadaic acid (OA, 0.75 microm), completely prevented tau from acute anoxia-induced dephosphorylation and restored the active forms of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 to the control level. The activities and protein levels of GSK-3 and PP-1 showed no change during acute anoxia. These data suggest that acute anoxia induces tau dephosphorylation, and that PP-2A may play a key role in tau dephosphorylation induced by acute anoxia.     

Assembly of tau in transgenic animals expressing P301L tau: alteration of phosphorylation and solubility

Transgenic mice (JNPL3), which develop neurofibrillary degeneration and express four-repeat human tau with P301L missense mutation, were characterized biochemically to determine whether the development of aggregated tau from soluble tau involves an intermediate stage. Homogenates from mice of different ages were separated into buffer-soluble (S1), sarkosyl- and salt-extractable (S2) and sarkosyl-insoluble pellet (P3) fractions, and analyzed for human tau distribution, phosphorylation and filament formation. S1 and S2 fractions contained 50-60-kDa tau whereas the S2 fraction also had 64-kDa tau. The level of tau in the P3 fraction increased in an age-dependent manner and correlated positively with the soluble tau concentration. The P3 fraction from 2.5-6.5-month-old mice contained 64- and 50-60-kDa tau, whereas that from 8.5-month and older transgenic animals contained mostly 64-kDa and higher molecular weight tau. The S2 and P3 fractions contained comparable amounts of 64-kDa tau. The 64-kDa tau was predominantly human, and phosphorylated at multiple sites: Thr181, Ser202/Thr205, Thr212, Thr231, Ser262, Ser396/Ser404, Ser409 and Ser422. Most of these sites were phosphorylated to a lesser extent in S2 than in P3 fractions. Tau polymers were detected in P3 fractions from 3-month and older female JNPL3 mice, but not in non-transgenic controls. The results suggest that tau in S2 represents an intermediate from which insoluble tau is derived, and that phosphorylation may play a role in filament formation and/or stabilization.     

Dephosphorylation of tau protein by calcineurin triturated into neural living cells

Alzheimer disease and related dementia are characterized by the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau aggregated into filaments. The role of tau phosphorylation in the fibrillogenesis has not yet been unraveled. Therefore, it is important to know which phosphatases can dephosphorylate tau protein in vivo. The effect of recombinant purified calcineurin (CN(PP2B)) and several calcineurin mutants on tau phosphorylation was studied in two neuronal like cell lines PC12 and SH-SY5Y. The modulation of tau phosphorylation at Ser199/Ser202, Ser396/Ser404, Ser262/Ser356, and Thr181 sites was examined in these cell lines using the phosphorylation state-dependent antitau antibodies Tau 1, PHF1, 12E8, and AT270. The results have shown that CN directly dephosphorylates all of those sites of tau protein. Recombinant calcineurin introduced into cells that have previously been treated with okadaic acid and cyclosporin A, which are inhibitors of phosphatases (PP1/PP2A and PP2B), has a direct effect on the phosphorylation status on all phosphorylation sites studied. We conclude that calcineurin is (besides PP2A) a important modulator of tau phosphorylation in vivo.     

The effect of cdk-5 overexpression on tau phosphorylation and spatial memory of rat

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), hyperphosphorylation of tau may be the underlying mechanism for the cytoskeletal abnormalities and neuronal death. It was reported that cyclin-dependent kinase5 (cdk-5) could phosphorylate tau at most AD-related epitopesin vitro. In this study, we investigated the effect of cdk-5 overexpression on tau phosphorylation and spatial memory in rat. We demonstrated that 24 h after transfection into rat hippocampus, cdk-5 was overexpressed and induced a reduced staining with antibody tau-1 and an enhanced staining with antibodies 12e8 and PHF-1, suggesting hyperphosphorylation of tau at Ser199/202, Ser262/356 and Ser396/404 sites. Additionally, the cdk-5 transfected rats showed long latency to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze compared to the control rat. 48 h after transfection, the level of cdk-5 was decreased significantly, and the latency of rats to find the hidden platform was prolonged. It implies thatin vivo overexpression of cdk-5 leads to impairment of spatial memory in rat and tau hyperphosphorylation may be the underlying mechanism.