Measuring Tau-microtubule affinity through cosedimentation assays

Emily O Alberico; Aranda R Duan; Holly V Goodson

doi:10.1016/bs.mcb.2017.06.015

Measuring Tau-microtubule affinity through cosedimentation assays

Methods Cell Biol. 2017:141:115-134. doi: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2017.06.015.

Authors

Emily O Alberico¹, Aranda R Duan¹, Holly V Goodson²

Affiliations

¹ University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States.
² University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States. Electronic address: hgoodson@nd.edu.

PMID: 28882298
DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2017.06.015

Abstract

Microtubule cosedimentation assays have long been used to study the affinity of interactions between Tau protein and microtubules. While these assays are very useful for characterizing and comparing the effects of alterations to either Tau or the microtubule filaments, they can also be problematic. We provide a set of straightforward instructions for performing these assays and point out a number of challenges and pitfalls that can complicate their interpretation.

Keywords: Affinity; Cosedimentation; Microtubule; Tau.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Centrifugation, Density Gradient
Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
Humans
Microtubules / metabolism*
Protein Binding
tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

MAPT protein, human
tau Proteins