title: Distinct patterns of tau-dependent process formation in mammalian cell lines.
abstract: Tau is a microtubule-associated protein involved in axonal elongation and central to the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative conditions. To better establish the contribution of the cellular context to tau-dependent microtubule organization, we compared the phenotypes resulting from heterologous tau expression in different mammalian cell lines after disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. After cytochalasin D treatment, tau-expressing CHO cells display one or two long neurite-like extensions whereas cells transfected with MAP2c developed multiple shorter processes. By contrast, under the same conditions, tau-transfected PtK2 cells elaborate microtubule bundles forming numerous processes. These results suggest that cell-specific factors are involved in tau-dependent microtubule organization, a notion that could facilitate functional assessment of tau abnormalities associated with neurodegenerative disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Lucie I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Bruijn
authors.forename: Pavan K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016875:tau Proteins