Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (May 2022)

Tau Acts in Concert With Kinase/Phosphatase Underlying Synaptic Dysfunction

  • Xing Fan,
  • Liye Xia,
  • Zheng Zhou,
  • Yanyan Qiu,
  • Chenhao Zhao,
  • Xiaomin Yin,
  • Xiaomin Yin,
  • Wei Qian,
  • Wei Qian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.908881
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by two pathological features: neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), formed by microtubule-associated protein tau, and abnormal accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ). Multiple evidence placed synaptic tau as the vital fact of AD pathology, especially at the very early stage of AD. In the present review, we discuss tau phosphorylation, which is critical for the dendritic localization of tau and synaptic plasticity. We review the related kinases and phosphatases implicated in the synaptic function of tau. We also review the synergistic effects of these kinases and phosphatases on tau-associated synaptic deficits. We aim to open a new perspective on the treatment of AD.

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