Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau in mice expressing normal human tau isoforms

Neurofibrillary tangles are composed of insoluble aggregates of the microtubule-associated protein tau. In Alzheimer's disease the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles occurs in the absence of tau mutations. Here we present mice that develop pathology from non-mutant human tau, in the absence of other exogenous factors, including beta-amyloid. The pathology in these mice is Alzheimer-like, with hyperphosphorylated tau accumulating as aggregated paired helical filaments. This pathologic tau accumulates in the cell bodies and dendrites of neurons in a spatiotemporally relevant distribution.     

Hyperphosphorylation of tau induces local polyproline II helix

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two protein precipitates, extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The primary constituent of NFTs is a hyperphosphorylated form of the microtubule-binding protein tau. Hyperphosphorylation of tau on over 30 residues, primarily within proline-rich sequences, is associated with conformational changes whose nature is poorly defined. Peptides derived from the proline-rich region of tau (residues 174-242) were synthesized, and the conformations were analyzed for the nonphosphorylated and phosphorylated peptides. CD and NMR data indicate that phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues in proline-rich sequences induces a conformational change to a type II polyproline helix. The largest phosphorylation-dependent conformational changes observed by CD were for tau peptides incorporating residues 174-183 or residues 229-238. Phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues exhibited ordered values of (3)J(alphaN) (3.1-6.2 Hz; mean = 4.7 Hz) compared to nonphosphorylated serine and threonine. Phosphorylation of a tau peptide consisting of tau residues 196-209 resulted in the disruption of a nascent alpha-helix. These results suggest that global reorganization of tau may occur upon hyperphosphorylation of proline-rich sequences in tau.     

Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Axonal damage is a major morphological correlate and cause of permanent neurological deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a multifocal, inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Hyperphosphorylation and pathological aggregation of microtubule-associated protein tau is a common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases with axonal degeneration including Alzheimer's disease. We have therefore analyzed tau phosphorylation, solubility and distribution in the brainstem of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. Tau was hyperphosphorylated at several sites also phosphorylated in Alzheimer's disease and became partially detergent-insoluble in EAE brains. Morphological examination demonstrated accumulation of amorphous deposits of abnormally phosphorylated tau in the cell body and axons of neurons within demyelinating plaques. Hyperphosphorylation of tau was accompanied by up-regulation of p25, an activator of cyclin-dependent kinase 5. Phosphorylation of tau, activation of cdk5, and axonal pathology were significantly reduced when diseased rats were treated with prednisolone, a standard therapy of acute relapses in MS. Hyperphosphorylation of tau was not observed in a genetic or nutritional model of axonal degeneration or demyelination, suggesting that inflammation as detected in the brains of rats with EAE is the specific trigger of tau pathology. In summary, our data provide evidence that axonal damage in EAE and possibly MS is linked to tau pathology.     

Role of caspase-3 in tau truncation at D421 is restricted in transgenic mouse models for tauopathies

Truncated tau is widely detected in Alzheimer's disease brain, and caspase-3 has been considered as a major executioner for tau truncation at aspartate421 (D421), according to its capability of cleaving recombinant tau in vitro . Here we investigated the relationship between D421 truncated tau and caspase-3 in two transgenic mouse models for tauopathies. In adult transgenic mice, activated caspase-3 could not be detected in neurons containing truncated tau, with the exception of a few glia-like cells or neurons in postnatal mice. Caspase-3 expression exhibited a dramatic decrease at the early development stage, and kept at constantly low levels during adult stages in both wild type and transgenic mice. On the other hand, co-incubating brain homogenates from adult tau transgenic mice and ethanol-treated postnatal mice promoted tau truncation at D421, which was mildly reduced by caspase inhibitor, but completely suppressed by phosphatase inhibitor, indicating that hyperphosphorylated tau becomes a poor substrate for truncation at D421. Taken together, our study shows that insufficient caspase-3 expression and hyperphosphorylated status of tau in the adult transgenic mouse brain restrict caspase-3 as an efficient enzyme for tau truncation in vivo . Clearly, there is a caspase-3 independent mechanism responsible for tau truncation at D421 in these models.     

Hyperphosphorylation at serine 199/202 of tau factor in the gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia

We examined the phosphorylation state of tau factor in hippocampal delayed neuronal death (DND) after transient forebrain ischemia. A transient phosphorylation increase at serine 199/202 but not serine 396 of tau factor after transient ischemia was clearly observed. Intraventricular injections of olomoucine and U-0126 (CDK5 and MAP kinase inhibitors, respectively) inhibited hyperphosphorylation. In contrast, wortmannin (PI3 kinase inhibitor) increased phosphorylation at serine 199/202 and corresponded with an increase in GSK3 phosphorylation. Our findings suggest that CDK5, MAP kinase, and GSK3 phosphorylate these sites after ischemia. We prepared recombinant normal human tau (N-Tau40) with TAT-HA protein and dephosphorylated-form human Tau-40 (D-tau40) in which 199/202 serines were changed to alanine by site-directed mutagenesis. Intraventricularly injected D-tau40 protected somewhat against DND while N-Tau40 did not. These data suggest that hyperphosphorylation at serine 199/202 of tau factor is induced by MAP kinase, CDK5, and GSK3, and contributes to ischemic neuronal injury.     

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.     

蝙蝠葛碱拮抗缓激肽引起的钙稳态改变 及细胞骨架蛋白的异常磷酸

为研究蝙蝠葛碱 (dauricine , Dau) 拮抗缓激肽 (bradykinin , BK) 诱导的 Alzheimer 样钙稳态失衡及细胞骨架蛋白异常磷酸化的作用,采用双波长荧光分光光度计测定细胞内钙离子浓度 ([Ca2+] i) ,用 MTT 法检测细胞代谢水平,用免疫组织化学方法观察 tau 蛋白表达和磷酸化 . 结果表明,Dau (3 μmol/L , 6 μmol/L) 可抑制 BK 诱导的 [Ca2+]i 升高,保护 BK 引起的神经元代谢降低,拮抗 BK 引起的 tau 蛋白异常磷酸化和聚集 . 结果提示： Dau 可拮抗 BK 诱导的 Alzheimer 样钙稳态失衡及细胞骨架蛋白异常磷酸化的作用 .     

罗格列酮改善胰岛素抵抗大鼠海马Alzheimer病样tau蛋白磷酸化水平

Tau蛋白过度磷酸化是Alzheimer病(AD)发病的关键事件.由于2型糖尿病是AD的风险因子,并且胰岛素抵抗是2型糖尿病的特征,检测了胰岛素抵抗大鼠大脑海马tau蛋白磷酸化水平,以及运用胰岛素增敏剂罗格列酮(TZD)后磷酸化的变化,发现胰岛素抵抗组大鼠海马tau蛋白呈过度磷酸化改变,但运用TZD后,tau蛋白的磷酸化状态有所恢复.由于糖原合成激酶-3β(GSK-3β)位于胰岛素信号转导途径中,并且是tau蛋白的重要磷酸激酶,研究检测罗格列酮干预前后GSK-3β活性,发现均升高.研究结果表明,肥胖时胰岛素抵抗导致细胞内胰岛素信号转导途径中,GSK-3β活性上调可能是引起大鼠海马内tau蛋白过度磷酸化的一个重要原因;虽然TZD可抑制tau蛋白的过度磷酸化,但可能不是通过下调GSK-3β活性的途径.     

Linking alterations in tau phosphorylation and cleavage during neuronal apoptosis

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are classic lesions of Alzheimer's disease. NFTs are bundles of abnormally phosphorylated tau, the paired helical filaments. The initiating mechanisms of NFTs and their role in neuronal loss are still unknown. Accumulating evidence supports a role for the activation of proteolytic enzymes, caspases, in neuronal death observed in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Alterations in tau phosphorylation and tau cleavage by caspases have been previously reported in neuronal apoptosis. However, the links between the alterations in tau phosphorylation and its proteolytic cleavage have not yet been documented. Here, we show that, during staurosporine-induced neuronal apoptosis, tau first undergoes transient hyperphosphorylation, which is followed by dephosphorylation and cleavage. This cleavage generated a 10-kDa fragment in addition to the 17- and 50-kDa tau fragments previously reported. Prior tau dephosphorylation by a glycogen synthase kinase-3beta inhibitor, lithium, enhanced tau cleavage and sensitized neurons to staurosporine-induced apoptosis. Caspase inhibition prevented tau cleavage without reversing changes in tau phosphorylation linked to apoptosis. Furthermore, the microtubule depolymerizing agent, colchicine, induced tau dephosphorylation and caspase-independent tau cleavage and degradation. Both phenomena were blocked by inhibiting protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) by okadaic acid. These experiments indicate that tau dephosphorylation precedes and is required for its cleavage and degradation. We propose that the absence of cleavage and degradation of hyperphosphorylated tau (due to PP2A inhibition) may lead to its accumulation in degenerating neurons. This mechanism may contribute to the aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau into paired helical filaments in Alzheimer's disease where reduced PP2A activity has been reported.     

Site-specific phosphorylation and caspase cleavage differentially impact tau-microtubule interactions and tau aggregation

The microtubule-associated protein tau is hyperphosphorylated and forms neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer disease. Additionally caspase-cleaved tau is present in Alzheimer disease brains co-localized with fibrillar tau pathologies. To further understand the role of site-specific phosphorylation and caspase cleavage of tau in regulating its function, constructs of full-length tau (T4) or tau truncated at Asp421 (T4C3) to mimic caspase-3 cleavage with and without site-directed mutations that mimic phosphorylation at Thr231/Ser235, Ser396/Ser404, or at all four sites (Thr231/Ser235/Ser396/Ser404) were made and expressed in cells. Pseudophosphorylation of T4, but not T4C3, at either Thr231/Ser235 or Ser396/Ser404 increased its phosphorylation at Ser262 and Ser199. Pseudophosphorylation at Thr231/Ser235 impaired the microtubule binding of both T4 and T4C3. In contrast, pseudophosphorylation at Ser396/Ser404 only affected microtubule binding of T4C3 but did make T4 less soluble and more aggregated, which is consistent with the previous finding (Abraha, A., Ghoshal, N., Gamblin, T. C., Cryns, V., Berry, R. W., Kuret, J., and Binder, L. I. (2000) J. Cell Sci. 113, 3737-3745) that pseudophosphorylation at Ser396/Ser404 enhances tau polymerization in vitro. In situ T4C3 was more prevalent in the cytoskeletal and microtubule-associated fractions compared with T4, whereas purified recombinant T4 bound microtubules with higher affinity than did T4C3 in an in vitro assay. These data indicate the importance of cellular factors in regulating tau-microtubule interactions and that, in the cells, phosphorylation of T4 might impair its microtubule binding ability more than caspase cleavage. Treatment of cells with nocodazole revealed that pseudophosphorylation of T4 at both Thr231/Ser235 and Ser396/Ser404 diminished the ability of tau to protect against microtubule depolymerization, whereas with T4C3 only pseudophosphorylation at Ser396/Ser404 attenuated the ability of tau to stabilize the microtubules. These results show that site-specific phosphorylation and caspase cleavage of tau differentially affect the ability of tau to bind and stabilize microtubules and facilitate tau self-association.     

Outer membrane vesicles enhance tau phosphorylation and contribute to cognitive impairment

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are nanosized vesicles produced by the gut microbiota (GM). The GM is well-known to be involved in the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanism of OMVs is not clear. In the present study, we demonstrated the involvement of OMVs in the development of cognitive (learning and memory) dysfunction induced by blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption. More important, further study showed that OMVs induced tau phosphorylation by activating glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) in the hippocampus. OMVs activated astrocytes and microglia, increased secretion of inflammatory cytokines (nuclear factor κB, interleukin-1β, and tumour necrosis factor-α) in the hippocampus. Therefore, OMVs increase the permeability of the BBB and promote the activation of astrocytes and microglia, inducing an inflammatory response and tau hyperphosphorylation by activating the GSK-3β pathway and finally leading to cognitive impairment.     

Inhibition of tau polymerization by its carboxy-terminal caspase cleavage fragment

Abnormal aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein, tau, occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases, making it important to understand the mechanisms of tau polymerization. Previous work has indicated that the C-terminal region of tau inhibits polymerization in vitro, and a growing body of evidence implicates caspase cleavage of tau at Asp 421 in the C-terminus as an important inducer of tau polymerization in Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we provide evidence that the C-terminal peptide fragment produced by caspase cleavage inhibits tau polymerization, suggesting that caspase cleavage of tau enhances its polymerization by removing the inhibitory control element. Moreover, we provide evidence that the peptide assumes an alpha-helical configuration and inhibits tau assembly by interacting with residues 321-375 in the microtubule binding repeat region. These findings indicate that formation of the fibrillar pathologies during the course of Alzheimer's disease may be driven or sustained by apoptotic events leading to caspase activation.     

Pseudophosphorylation of tau at serine 422 inhibits caspase cleavage: in vitro evidence and implications for tangle formation in vivo

The tangles of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are comprised of the tau protein displaying numerous alterations, including phosphorylation at serine 422 (S422) and truncation at aspartic acid 421 (D421). Truncation at the latter site appears to result from activation of caspases, a class of proteases that cleave specifically at aspartic acid residues. It has been proposed that phosphorylation at or near caspase cleavage sites could regulate the ability of the protease to cleave at those sites. Here, we use tau pseudophosphorylated at S422 (S422E) to examine the effects of tau phosphorylation on its cleavage by caspase 3. We find that S422E tau is more resistant to proteolysis by caspase 3 than non-pseudophosphorylated tau. Additionally, we use antibodies directed against the phosphorylation site and against the truncation epitope to assess the presence of these epitopes in neurofibrillary tangles in the aged human brain. We show that phosphorylation precedes truncation during tangle maturation. Moreover, the distribution of the two epitopes suggests that a significant length of time (perhaps as much as two decades) elapses between S422 phosphorylation and cleavage at D421. We further conclude that tau phosphorylation at S422 may be a protective mechanism that inhibits cleavage in vivo.     

Novel spermine-amino acid conjugates and basic tripeptides enhance cleavage of the hairpin ribozyme at low magnesium ion concentration.

Combinations of the polyamine spermine and magnesium ions synergize to dramatically enhance cleavage of the hairpin ribozyme. Certain synthetic basic tripeptides stimulate hairpin cleavage significantly at limiting magnesium ion concentration, notably the tripeptide of L-diaminobutyric acid (Dab). Of a range of novel synthetic spermine-amino acid conjugates, L-Dab-spermine (but not D-Dab nor other amino acid conjugates) was more effective than spermine itself.     

Pseudophosphorylation and glycation of tau protein enhance but do not trigger fibrillization in vitro

Alzheimer's disease is defined in part by the intraneuronal aggregation of tau protein into filamentous lesions. The pathway is accompanied by posttranslational modifications including phosphorylation and glycation, each of which has been shown to promote tau fibrillization in vitro when present at high stoichiometry. To clarify the site-specific impact of posttranslational modification on tau fibrillization, the ability of recombinant full-length four repeat tau protein (htau40) and 11 pseudophosphorylation mutants to fibrillize in the presence of anionic inducer was assayed in vitro using transmission electron microscopy and laser light scattering assays. Tau glycated with d-glucose was examined as well. Both glycated tau and pseudophosphorylation mutants S199E, T212E, S214E, double mutant T212E/S214E, and triple mutant S199E/S202E/T205E yielded increased filament mass at equilibrium relative to wild-type tau. Increases in filament mass correlated strongly with decreases in critical concentration, indicating that both pseudophosphorylation and glycation promoted fibrillization by shifting equilibrium toward the fibrillized state. Analysis of reaction time courses further revealed that increases in filament mass were not associated with reduced lag times, indicating that these posttranslational modifications did not promote filament nucleation. The results suggest that site-specific posttranslational modifications can stabilize filaments once they nucleate, and thereby support their accumulation at low intracellular tau concentrations.     

Calpain-mediated tau cleavage: a mechanism leading to neurodegeneration shared by multiple tauopathies

Tau dysfunction has been associated with a host of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies. These diseases share, as a common pathological hallmark, the presence of intracellular aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau in affected brain areas. Aside from tau hyperphosphorylation, little is known about the role of other posttranslational modifications in tauopathies. Recently, we obtained data suggesting that calpain-mediated tau cleavage leading to the generation of a neurotoxic tau fragment might play an important role in Alzheimer's disease. In the current study, we assessed the presence of this tau fragment in several tauopathies. Our results show high levels of the 17-kDa tau fragment and enhanced calpain activity in the temporal cortex of AD patients and in brain samples obtained from patients with other tauopathies. In addition, our data suggest that this fragment could partially inhibit tau aggregation. Conversely, tau aggregation might prevent calpain-mediated cleavage, establishing a feedback circuit that might lead to the accumulation of this toxic tau fragment. Collectively, these data suggest that the mechanism underlying the generation of the 17-kDa neurotoxic tau fragment might be part of a conserved pathologic process shared by multiple tauopathies.     

A Synergic Role of Caspase-6 and Caspase-3 in Tau Truncation at D421 Induced by H2O2

Tau truncation is widely detected in Alzheimer’s disease brain. Caspases activation is suggested to play a significant role in tau truncation at Aspartate 421 (D421) according to their ability to cleave recombinant tau in vitro. Ample evidence has shown that caspase-6 is involved in cognitive impairment and expressed in AD brain. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to caspase-6 activation and correlate with AD. Here, we transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells with Tau 441 plasmid and investigated the role of caspase-6 and caspase-3 in ROS-mediated tau truncation. Our data demonstrated that H₂O₂ induced oxidative stress and increased tau truncation. Caspase-6 and caspase-3 activity also increased in a dose-dependent manner in HEK 293/Tau cells during H₂O₂ insult. When cells were treated with an ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-l-cysteine, tau truncation was significantly suppressed. Compared with H₂O₂ (100 μM)/non-inhibitor group or single-inhibitor groups (z-VEID-fmk, caspase-6 inhibitor or z-DEVD-fmk, and caspase-3 inhibitor), tau truncation induced by H₂O₂ was effectively reduced in the combinative inhibitors group. Similar results were shown when cells were transfected with specific caspase-3 and caspase-6 siRNA. Inhibition of caspase-6 led to decline of caspase-3 activation. Taken together, our results suggest that the combination of caspase-6 and caspase-3 aggravates tau truncation at D421 induced by H₂O₂. Caspase-6 may play an important part in activating caspase-3. Further investigation of how the synergic role of caspase-6 and caspase-3 affects tau truncation may provide new visions for potential AD therapies.     

Structure at restriction endonuclease MboI cleavage sites protected by actinomycin D or distamycin A

Restriction endonuclease MboI cleavage of DNA was inhibited by actinomycin D and distamycin A. The two inhibitors protected different subsets of the 8 cleavage sites in polyoma DNA. The cleavage reactions were analyzed both in the presence of minimal inhibitory concentrations of the compounds and at higher concentrations, allowing cleavage at only 1 site/DNA molecule. The experiments showed that cleavage sites most efficiently protected by actinomycin D had putative inhibitor binding sites at a distance of 1-2 base pairs from the MboI recognition sequence. Distamycin A, in contrast, apparently has to bind immediately adjacent to the MboI recognition sequence to protect from cleavage.     

Identifi cation of protease exosite-interacting peptides that enhance substrate cleavage kinetics

Abstract Many peptidases are thought to require non-active site interaction surfaces, or exosites, to recognize and cleave physiological substrates with high specifi city and catalytic effi ciency. However, the existence and function of protease exosites remain obscure owing to a lack of effective methods to identify and characterize exosite-interacting substrates. To address this need, we modifi ed the cellular libraries of peptide substrates (CLiPS) methodology to enable the discovery of exosite-interacting peptide ligands. Invariant cleavage motifs recognized by the active sites of thrombin and caspase-7 were displayed on the outer surface of bacteria adjacent to a candidate exosite-interacting peptide. Exosite peptide libraries were then screened for ligands that accelerate cleavage of the active site recognition motif using two-color fl ow cytometry. Exosite CLiPS (eCLiPS) identifi ed exosite-binding peptides for thrombin that were highly similar to a critical exosite interaction motif in the thrombin substrate, proteaseactivated receptor 1. Protease activity probes incorporating exosite-binding peptides were cleaved ten-fold faster than substrates without exosite ligands, increasing their sensitivity to thrombin activity in vitro. For comparison, screening with caspase-7 yielded peptides that modestly enhanced (two-fold) substrate cleavage rates. The eCLiPS method provides a new tool to profi le the ligand specifi city of protease exosites and to develop improved substrates.