Tau

A microtubule associated protein

General Information

There are two major classes of heat stable microtubule associated proteins (MAPS): MAP 2 (280 kD), and tau (55-65 kD). Both protein classes are involved in the regulation of microtubule polymerization in cells. Tau is a neuronal protein that mainly localizes to axons. Hyperphosphorylated tau has been shown to be a major element of paired helical filaments in Alzheimer's disease.