title: Cell-based Models To Investigate Tau Aggregation.
abstract: Accumulation of abnormal tau aggregates in neuron is an important pathological signature in multiple neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Tau is a neuron specific microtubule-associated protein that regulates microtubule stability, which is critical for axonal outgrowth and synaptic plasticity. In a pathological condition, tau dissociates from microtubules and forms insoluble aggregates called neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The accumulation of NFTs in neuron directly correlates with microtubule dysfunction and neuronal degeneration. Due to the pathophysiological importance of tau, great efforts have been made to understand tau aggregation processes and find therapeutics to halt or reverse the processes. However, progress has been slow due to the lack of a suitable method for monitoring tau aggregation. In this mini-review, we will review the conventional methods for studying tau aggregation, and introduce recent cell-based sensor approaches that allow monitoring tau aggregation in living cells.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sungsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea ; Biological Chemistry, University of Science and Technology, Daejon 305-333, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Md Mamunul
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea ; Department of Biotechnology, Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dohee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: BiFC; Cell-based sensor; In vitro assay; Tau oligomerization; Tau phosphorylation; Tauopathy