Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is characterized by an accumulation of cholesterol in most tissues and progressive neurodegeneration with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Neurofibrillary tangles are composed of paired helical filaments (PHF), a major component of which is the hyperphosphorylated tau. In this study we used NPC heterozygous and NPC homozygous mouse brains to investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for tauopathy in NPC. Immunoblot analysis using anti-tau antibodies (Tau-1, PHF-1, AT-180, and AT-100) revealed site-specific phosphorylation of tau at Ser-396 and Ser-404 in the brains of NPC homozygous mice. Mitogen-activated protein kinase, a potential serine kinase known to phosphorylate tau, was activated, whereas other serine kinases such as glycogen synthase kinase-3β and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 were inactive. Morphological examination demonstrated that a number of neurons, the perikarya of which strongly immunostained with PHF-1, exhibited polymorphorous cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and multi-concentric lamellar-like bodies. Importantly, the accumulation of intracellular cholesterol in NPC mouse brains was determined to be a function of age. From these results we conclude that abnormal cholesterol metabolism due to the genetic mutation in NPC1 may be responsible for activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-signaling pathway and site-specific phosphorylation of tau in vivo, leading to tauopathy in NPC.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 10314-10319 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Biological Chemistry |
| Volume | 276 |
| Issue number | 13 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2001 Mar 30 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
Cite this
Site-specific Phosphorylation of Tau Accompanied by Activation of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) in Brains of Niemann-Pick Type C Mice. / Sawamura, Naoya; Gong, Jian Sheng; Garver, William S.; Heidenreich, Randall A.; Ninomiya, Haruaki; Ohno, Kousaku; Yanagisawa, Katsuhiko; Michikawa, Makoto.
In: Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 276, No. 13, 30.03.2001, p. 10314-10319.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Site-specific Phosphorylation of Tau Accompanied by Activation of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) in Brains of Niemann-Pick Type C Mice
AU - Sawamura, Naoya
AU - Gong, Jian Sheng
AU - Garver, William S.
AU - Heidenreich, Randall A.
AU - Ninomiya, Haruaki
AU - Ohno, Kousaku
AU - Yanagisawa, Katsuhiko
AU - Michikawa, Makoto
PY - 2001/3/30
Y1 - 2001/3/30
N2 - Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is characterized by an accumulation of cholesterol in most tissues and progressive neurodegeneration with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Neurofibrillary tangles are composed of paired helical filaments (PHF), a major component of which is the hyperphosphorylated tau. In this study we used NPC heterozygous and NPC homozygous mouse brains to investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for tauopathy in NPC. Immunoblot analysis using anti-tau antibodies (Tau-1, PHF-1, AT-180, and AT-100) revealed site-specific phosphorylation of tau at Ser-396 and Ser-404 in the brains of NPC homozygous mice. Mitogen-activated protein kinase, a potential serine kinase known to phosphorylate tau, was activated, whereas other serine kinases such as glycogen synthase kinase-3β and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 were inactive. Morphological examination demonstrated that a number of neurons, the perikarya of which strongly immunostained with PHF-1, exhibited polymorphorous cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and multi-concentric lamellar-like bodies. Importantly, the accumulation of intracellular cholesterol in NPC mouse brains was determined to be a function of age. From these results we conclude that abnormal cholesterol metabolism due to the genetic mutation in NPC1 may be responsible for activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-signaling pathway and site-specific phosphorylation of tau in vivo, leading to tauopathy in NPC.
AB - Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is characterized by an accumulation of cholesterol in most tissues and progressive neurodegeneration with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Neurofibrillary tangles are composed of paired helical filaments (PHF), a major component of which is the hyperphosphorylated tau. In this study we used NPC heterozygous and NPC homozygous mouse brains to investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for tauopathy in NPC. Immunoblot analysis using anti-tau antibodies (Tau-1, PHF-1, AT-180, and AT-100) revealed site-specific phosphorylation of tau at Ser-396 and Ser-404 in the brains of NPC homozygous mice. Mitogen-activated protein kinase, a potential serine kinase known to phosphorylate tau, was activated, whereas other serine kinases such as glycogen synthase kinase-3β and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 were inactive. Morphological examination demonstrated that a number of neurons, the perikarya of which strongly immunostained with PHF-1, exhibited polymorphorous cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and multi-concentric lamellar-like bodies. Importantly, the accumulation of intracellular cholesterol in NPC mouse brains was determined to be a function of age. From these results we conclude that abnormal cholesterol metabolism due to the genetic mutation in NPC1 may be responsible for activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-signaling pathway and site-specific phosphorylation of tau in vivo, leading to tauopathy in NPC.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035971218&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035971218&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1074/jbc.M009733200
DO - 10.1074/jbc.M009733200
M3 - Article
VL - 276
SP - 10314
EP - 10319
JO - Journal of Biological Chemistry
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
SN - 0021-9258
IS - 13
ER -