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Inhibition of neuronal maturation in primary hippocampal neurons from tau deficient mice

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dawson, HN; Ferreira, A; Eyster, MV; Ghoshal, N; Binder, LI; Vitek, MP
Published in: Journal of Cell Science
April 23, 2001

Conflicting evidence supports a role for tau as an essential neuronal cytoskeletal protein or as a redundant protein whose function can be fulfilled by other microtubule-associated proteins. To investigate the function of tau in axonogenesis, we created tau deficient mice by disrupting the TAU gene. The engineered mice do not express the tau protein, appear physically normal and are able to reproduce. In contrast to a previously reported tau knockout mouse, embryonic hippocampal cultures from tau deficient mice show a significant delay in maturation as measured by axonal and neuritic extensions. The classic technique of selectively enhancing axonal growth by growth on laminin substrates failed to restore normal neuronal maturation of tau knockout neurons. By mating human TAU-gene transgenic and tau knockout mice, we reconstituted tau-deficient neurons with human tau proteins and restored a normal pattern of axonal growth and neuronal maturation. The ability of human tau proteins to rescue tau-deficient mouse neurons confirms that tau expression affects the rate of neurite extension.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Cell Science

ISSN

0021-9533

Publication Date

April 23, 2001

Volume

114

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1179 / 1187

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental Biology
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

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Dawson, H. N., Ferreira, A., Eyster, M. V., Ghoshal, N., Binder, L. I., & Vitek, M. P. (2001). Inhibition of neuronal maturation in primary hippocampal neurons from tau deficient mice. Journal of Cell Science, 114(6), 1179–1187.
Dawson, H. N., A. Ferreira, M. V. Eyster, N. Ghoshal, L. I. Binder, and M. P. Vitek. “Inhibition of neuronal maturation in primary hippocampal neurons from tau deficient mice.” Journal of Cell Science 114, no. 6 (April 23, 2001): 1179–87.
Dawson HN, Ferreira A, Eyster MV, Ghoshal N, Binder LI, Vitek MP. Inhibition of neuronal maturation in primary hippocampal neurons from tau deficient mice. Journal of Cell Science. 2001 Apr 23;114(6):1179–87.
Dawson, H. N., et al. “Inhibition of neuronal maturation in primary hippocampal neurons from tau deficient mice.” Journal of Cell Science, vol. 114, no. 6, Apr. 2001, pp. 1179–87.
Dawson HN, Ferreira A, Eyster MV, Ghoshal N, Binder LI, Vitek MP. Inhibition of neuronal maturation in primary hippocampal neurons from tau deficient mice. Journal of Cell Science. 2001 Apr 23;114(6):1179–1187.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Cell Science

ISSN

0021-9533

Publication Date

April 23, 2001

Volume

114

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1179 / 1187

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental Biology
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences