Overexpression of tau protein in COS-1 cells results in the stabilization of centrosome-independent microtubules and extension of cytoplasmic processes.
COS-1 cells were transfected with cDNAs coding for different human tau isoforms. Expressed tau isoforms bind to cellular microtubules in vivo, preferentially at the distal regions of microtubules nucleated by the centrosome, leading to their stabilization. Eventually, tau-coated microtubules without any association with the centrosome were observed. A major difference between tau isoforms containing three tubulin-binding motifs and tau isoforms containing four tubulin-binding motifs is the greater ability of the latter in inducing the formation of long cytoplasmic processes.
Centro de Biología Molecular (CSIC-UAM), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
E
E
Montejo de Garcini
S
S
de la Luna
J E
JE
Dominguez
J
J
Avila
D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002502:Centrioles / Q000502:physiology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014162:Transfection; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016875:tau Proteins