Tau Acts in Concert With Kinase/Phosphatase Underlying Synaptic Dysfunction

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

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.908881

Tau Acts in Concert With Kinase/Phosphatase Underlying Synaptic Dysfunction

Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 May 27:14:908881. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.908881. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xing Fan¹, Liye Xia¹, Zheng Zhou¹, Yanyan Qiu¹, Chenhao Zhao¹, Xiaomin Yin^{1

2}, Wei Qian^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education of China, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
² NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, China.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; kinase; phosphatase; synaptic dysfunction; tau.

Publication types

Review