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Tau filaments from human brain and from in vitro assembly of recombinant protein show cross-ß structure

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 08:31 authored by John Berriman, Louise SerpellLouise Serpell, Keith A Oberg, Anthony L Fink, Michel Goedert, R Anthony Crowther
Abnormal filaments consisting of hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau form in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, and various dementing tauopathies. In Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome, the filaments have two characteristic morphologies referred to as paired helical and straight filaments, whereas in tauopathies, there is a wider range of morphologies. There has been controversy in the literature concerning the internal molecular fine structure of these filaments, with arguments for and against the cross-ß structure demonstrated in many other amyloid fibers. The difficulty is to produce from brain pure preparations of filaments for analysis. One approach to avoid the need for a pure preparation is to use selected area electron diffraction from small groups of filaments of defined morphology. Alternatively, it is possible to assemble filaments in vitro from expressed tau protein to produce a homogeneous specimen suitable for analysis by electron diffraction, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Using both these approaches, we show here that native filaments from brain and filaments assembled in vitro from expressed tau protein have a clear cross-ß structure.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

ISSN

0027-8424

Publisher

National Academy of Sciences

Issue

15

Volume

100

Page range

9034-9038

Pages

5.0

Department affiliated with

  • Biochemistry Publications

Notes

LS carried out the research and analysis in collaboration with J Berriman. LS co-authored the paper with M Goedert, cited 58 times.

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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