Title

Tau protein binds to microtubules through a flexible array of distributed weak sites.

Journal

The Journal of cell biology

Volume

115

Issue

None

Pages

717-30

Date

1991-11-01

Authors

Butner KA | Kirschner MW

Tau protein plays a role in the extension and maintenance of neuronal processes through a direct association with microtubules. It is found in the axonal microtubules of mature neurons (Binder et al ., 1985) and in the axonlike elongated neurite processes synthesized by differentiating neurons in culture. To address this issue, three different tau protein fragments were synthesized in vitro: (a) the tau protein repeat domain (residues 237 to 367); (b) the amino terminal half of tau protein (residues 1-237) ; and (c) the carboxy terminal nonrepeat domain of tau protein (residues 358 to 430). From these results, we conclude the repeat domain contributes most of the binding energy for microtubules.

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