Roles of tau protein in health and disease

Tau is well established as a microtubule-associated protein in neurons. However, under pathological conditions, aberrant assembly of tau into insoluble aggregates is accompanied by synaptic dysfunction and neural cell death in a range of neurodegenerative disorders, collectively referred to as tauopathies. Recent advances in our understanding of the multiple functions and different locations of tau inside and outside neurons have revealed novel insights into its importance in a diverse range of molecular pathways including cell signalling, synaptic plasticity, and regulation of genomic stability. The present review describes the physiological and pathophysiological properties of tau and how these relate to its…

• AS
  Alzheimer's Society
• NC
  National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research
• AR
  Alzheimer’s Research UK
• DF
  Directorate for Biological Sciences
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council