Tau

Tau protein is the main constituent of neurofibrillary tangles, and a hallmark of a range of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Depending on the isoform, its molecular weight ranges from 55 kDa-62 kDa¹. Under normal circumstances, tau interacts with tubulin to stabilize microtubule assembly.

The basis for the tau hypothesis revolves around abnormal phosphorylation of the protein, resulting in the development of paired-helical-filaments (PHFs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) These are intracellular occlusions which are thought to disrupt the cell leading to neuronal dysfunction and, ultimately, cognitive decline. All six tau isoforms are present in an often hyperphosphorylated state in PHFs in AD. The extent and location of tau pathology can be used to track disease progression through Braak staging.^2-4

​​Applications

​​Our range of tau antibodies, kits and proteins are validated for a variety of key applications including western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, ELISA, and immunoprecipitation.  

​	Immunohistochemistry (Frozen sections) analysis of mouse cerebrum tissue sections labeling Tau with purified ab32057 at 1/500 (0.2 µg/ml). Heat mediated antigen retrieval using sodium citrate buffer (10mM citrate pH 6.0 + 0.05% Tween-20). Goat anti rabbit IgG (Alexa Fluor® 488, ab150077) was used as the secondary antibody. Negative control: PBS instead of the primary antibody. DAPI was used as a counterstain. Immunohistochemistry (frozen sections) analysis of mouse cerebrum tissue sections labeling Tau with purified ab32057 at 1/500 (0.2 µg/ml). Heat mediated antigen retrieval using sodium citrate buffer (10mM citrate pH 6.0 + 0.05% Tween-20). Goat anti rabbit IgG (Alexa Fluor® 488, ab150077) was used as the secondary antibody. Negative control: PBS instead of the primary antibody. DAPI was used as a counterstain. ​
Immunohistochemistry (Frozen sections) - Anti-Tau antibody [E178] (ab32057)

Recommended products for your Tau research

*This kit is part of the SimpleStep ELISA^® range.

See our whole range of products to tau.

References

1. Hirokawa, N., Shiomura, Y., Okabe, S. Tau proteins: the molecular structure and mode of binding on microtubles J Cell Biol. 107(4) (1988)
2. Ballatore, C., Lee, V. M.-Y. & Trojanowski, J. Q. Tau-mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 8, 663–672 (2007) doi: 10.1038/nrn2194
3. Gu, Y., Oyama, F. & Ihara, Y. Tau is widely expressed in rat tissues. J. Neurochem. 67, 1235–1244 (2002). doi:10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67031235.x
4. Trojanowski, J. Q., Schuck, T., Schmidt, M. L. & Lee, V. M. Distribution of tau proteins in the normal human central and peripheral nervous system. J Histochem Cytochem 37, 209–215 (1989).
5. Morris, M., Maeda, S., Vossel, K. & Mucke, L. The many faces of tau. Neuron 70, 410–426 (2011).
6. Braak, H., Braak, E. Staging of alzheimer's disease-related neurofibrillary changes. Neurobiology of Aging. Volume 16, Issue 3, May–June 1995, Pages 271-278

​

​