TAU's cease and de-cis-t letter

Although it is well established that phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein-t contributes to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, antibodies against the target have so far been ineffective and have thus been relegated to research-only use. Now, researchers at Harvard Medical School have developed isoform-specific antibodies to target the protein and have shown that these can help detect, treat and prevent AD in mice.¹

Microtubule-associated protein-t (MAPT; TAU; FTDP-17) is a microtubule-binding protein that promotes microtubule assembly in healthy neurons. In AD patients, TAU becomes hyperphosphorylated, loses its normal physiological function and forms toxic TAU aggregates. In addition to b-amyloid (Ab) plaques, AD is characterized by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated-t 231 (p-t 231), which also contributes to neurodegeneration...