Tau isoforms expression in transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Neurochem Res. 2006 May;31(5):597-602. doi: 10.1007/s11064-006-9057-3. Epub 2006 May 23.

Abstract

Tau is a protein involved in regulation of microtubule stability, axonal differentiation and transport. Alteration of retrograde transport may lead to motor neuron degeneration. Thus alternative mRNA splicing and expression of tau isoforms were studied in a transgenic mouse model harboring the human SOD1 G93A mutation. The studies were performed on cortex, hippocampus and spinal cord of 64- and 120-day-old animals (presymptomatic and symptomatic stage) and wild type controls. Exon 10 was found in all studied tissues. The 2N isoform containing exons 2 and 3 (+2+3) and the 1N (+2-3) predominated over the 0N (-2-3) in brain regions of the studied mice. The 2N expression was significantly lower in cortex and hippocampus of symptomatic animals compared to analogue control tissues. The decrease in 2N expression resulted in lower levels of total tau mRNA and tau protein. No changes in tau expression were observed in spinal cord of studied animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Exons
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1
  • tau Proteins / genetics
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • SOD1 protein, human
  • tau Proteins
  • Sod1 protein, mouse
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1