Electrochemical investigations into Tau protein phosphorylations

Analyst. 2012 May 7;137(9):2042-6. doi: 10.1039/c2an35097a. Epub 2012 Mar 23.

Abstract

Hyperphosphorylation of Tau, a protein that stabilizes microtubules, leads to the breakdown of the microtubular structure and ultimately to the formation of neurofibrillar tangles within neurons. Here, we report monitoring of Tau phosphorylations electrochemically, using Tau protein films chemically linked to gold surfaces and 5'-γ-ferrocenyl (Fc) adenosine triphosphate (Fc-ATP) as a co-substrate. Fc-phosphorylation reactions of Tau are explored using the three protein kinases, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β), sarcoma (Src)-related kinase, and protein kinase A (PKA), which catalyze Fc-phosphorylation of different residues and regions within Tau. The kinetic parameters of the biochemical process (K(M) and V(max)) were determined.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Surface Properties
  • tau Proteins / chemistry
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • tau Proteins
  • Gold
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Protein Kinases