TY - JOUR
T1 - Phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau by isoforms of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)
AU - Yoshida, Hirotaka
AU - Hastie, C. James
AU - McLauchlan, Hilary
AU - Cohen, Philip
AU - Goedert, Michel
PY - 2004/7/1
Y1 - 2004/7/1
N2 - Microtubule-associated protein tau in a hyperphosphorylated state is the major component of the filamentous lesions that define a number of neurodegenerative diseases commonly referred to as tauopathies. Hyperphosphorylation of tau at most sites appears to precede filament assembly. Many of the hyperphosphorylated sites are serine/threonine-proline sequences. Here we show that c-Jun N-terminal kinases JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3 phosphorylate tau at many serine/threonine-prolines, as assessed by the generation of the epitopes of phosphorylation-dependent anti-tau antibodies. Of the three protein kinases, JNK2 phosphorylated the most sites in tau, followed by JNK3 and JNK1. Phosphorylation by JNK isoforms resulted in a greatly reduced ability of tau to promote microtubule assembly. These findings extend the number of candidate protein kinases for the hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
AB - Microtubule-associated protein tau in a hyperphosphorylated state is the major component of the filamentous lesions that define a number of neurodegenerative diseases commonly referred to as tauopathies. Hyperphosphorylation of tau at most sites appears to precede filament assembly. Many of the hyperphosphorylated sites are serine/threonine-proline sequences. Here we show that c-Jun N-terminal kinases JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3 phosphorylate tau at many serine/threonine-prolines, as assessed by the generation of the epitopes of phosphorylation-dependent anti-tau antibodies. Of the three protein kinases, JNK2 phosphorylated the most sites in tau, followed by JNK3 and JNK1. Phosphorylation by JNK isoforms resulted in a greatly reduced ability of tau to promote microtubule assembly. These findings extend the number of candidate protein kinases for the hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
KW - c-Jun N-terminal kinase
KW - Stress-activated protein kinase
KW - Tau protein
KW - Tauopathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3142712947&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2004.02479.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2004.02479.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15228592
AN - SCOPUS:3142712947
VL - 90
SP - 352
EP - 358
JO - Journal of Neurochemistry
JF - Journal of Neurochemistry
SN - 0022-3042
IS - 2
ER -