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Life Of Tau: Oligomerization, Cns Extracellular Clearance And Role As Plasma Biomarker, Tirth Patel

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT, commonly referred to as tau) is an intrinsically disordered, highly soluble protein predominantly expressed in axons where it binds and stabilizes microtubules. Under normal physiological conditions, soluble monomeric tau is released in the extracellular space in the interstitial fluid (ISF) by neurons. Additionally it undergoes reversible phosphorylation and other extensive modifications inside the cell under the action of a host of enzymes. However in the disease process tau loses this solubility, detaches from microtubules and ultimately migrates to the somatodendritic compartment of the neuron, where it ultimately forms insoluble fibrillar aggregates known as tau …