Recombinant Human Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT)

Uniprot Id

P10636

Target Species

Human

Target Name

MAPT

Target Full Name

Microtubule-associated protein tau

Target Function

Promotes microtubule assembly and stability, and might be involved in the establishment and maintenance of neuronal polarity. The C-terminus binds axonal microtubules while the N-terminus binds neural plasma membrane components, suggesting that tau functions as a linker protein between both. Axonal polarity is predetermined by TAU/MAPT localization (in the neuronal cell) in the domain of the cell body defined by the centrosome. The short isoforms allow plasticity of the cytoskeleton whereas the longer isoforms may preferentially play a role in its stabilization.

Target Involvement

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD); Pick disease of the brain (PIDB); Progressive supranuclear palsy 1 (PSNP1); Parkinson-dementia syndrome (PARDE)

Target Subcellular Location

Cytoplasm, cytosol. Cell membrane; Peripheral membrane protein; Cytoplasmic side. Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton. Cell projection, axon. Cell projection, dendrite. Secreted.

Target Tissue Specificity

Expressed in neurons. Isoform PNS-tau is expressed in the peripheral nervous system while the others are expressed in the central nervous system.

Target Research Area

Neuroscience

Target Synonyms

Neurofibrillary tangle protein;Paired helical filament-tau ;PHF-tau

Target Background

This gene encodes the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) whose transcript undergoes complex, regulated alternative splicing, giving rise to several mRNA species. MAPT transcripts are differentially expressed in the nervous system, depending on stage of neuronal maturation and neuron type. MAPT gene mutations have been associated with several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, frontotemporal dementia, cortico-basal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy.