The State of Phosphorylation of Normal Adult Brain τ, Fetal τ, and τ from Alzheimer Paired Helical Filaments at Amino Acid Residue Ser262

Abstract: Antibody Ab262 was raised against a synthetic τ peptide (SKIGSTENLK, amino acids 258–267 of τ, termed Ser²⁶² peptide). The antibody was more reactive with Ser²⁶² peptide and unphosphorylated τ than a related phosphopeptide [SKIGS(P)TENLK, termed P-Ser²⁶² peptide] and τ phosphorylated by a partially purified kinase, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β. Ab262 reacted poorly with a peptide having the sequence DRVQSKIGSLD (amino acids 348–358). Treatment of P-Ser²⁶² peptide or GSK 3β phosphorylated τ with alkaline phosphatase increased Ab262 immunoreactivity, indicating that Ab262 is a reagent useful for studying τ phosphorylation at the Ser²⁶² residue. The Ab262 immunoreactivity was detected in τ from normal brains and Alzheimer paired helical filament (PHF-τ) and in PHFs. Alkaline phosphatase treatment had no effect on the Ab262 immunoreactivity of normal τ and PHF-τ but altered the Tau-1 and PHF-1 immunoreactivities. τ proteins from rat brains at 3 and 8 h postmortem exhibited 5 and 19%, respectively, more Ab262 immunoreactivity than τ from fresh tissues. In comparison, rat τ at 8 h postmortem was 40% more immunoreactive with Tau-1. The results suggest that Ser²⁶² is not a major phosphorylation site in vivo. Moreover, there is little or no difference between PHF-τ and normal τ in the extent of phosphorylation at Ser²⁶².