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  • Title: Tau Antibody Structure Reveals a Molecular Switch Defining a Pathological Conformation of the Tau Protein.
    Author: Chukwu JE, Pedersen JT, Pedersen LØ, Volbracht C, Sigurdsson EM, Kong XP.
    Journal: Sci Rep; 2018 Apr 18; 8(1):6209. PubMed ID: 29670132.
    Abstract:
    Tau antibodies have shown therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease and several are in clinical trials. As a microtubule-associated protein, tau relies on dynamic phosphorylation for its normal functions. In tauopathies, it becomes hyperphosphorylated and aggregates into toxic assemblies, which collectively lead to neurodegeneration. Of the phospho-epitopes, the region around Ser396 has received particular attention because of its prominence and stability in tauopathies. Here we report the first structure of a monoclonal tau antibody in complex with the pathologically important phospho-Ser396 residue. Its binding region reveals tau residues Tyr394 to phospho-Ser396 stabilized in a β-strand conformation that is coordinated by a phospho-specific antigen binding site. These details highlight a molecular switch that defines this prominent conformation of tau and ways to target it. Overall, the structure of the antibody-antigen complex clarifies why certain phosphorylation sites in tau are more closely linked to neurodegeneration than others.
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