Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 618, Issue 2, 6 August 1993, Pages 333-337
Brain Research

Localization of the mitogen activated protein kinase ERK2 in Alzheimer's disease neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaque neurites

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(93)91286-2Get rights and content

Abstract

The phosphorylation of normal tau by mitogen activated protein (MAP) or extracellular signal related kinases (ERKs) induces tau to acquire biochemical properties of Alzheimer's disease (AD) paired helical filament (PHF) proteins in vitro. We show here that a monoclonal antibody to MAP kinases recognizes ERK2 in normal and AD cortex, but ERK2 levels are slightly reduced in the AD brain. Since ERK2 was detected in neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaque neurites in the AD hippocampus, ERK2 is positioned to phosphorylate normal tau and could play a role in the generation of PHFs in AD.

References (37)

  • AraiH. et al.

    Defined neurofilament, τ, and β-amyloid precursor protein epitopes distinguish Alzheimer from non-Alzheimer senile plaques

  • AraiH. et al.

    Epitope analysis of senile plaque components in the hippocampus of patients with Parkinson's disease

    Neurology

    (1992)
  • BiernatJ. et al.

    The switch of tau protein to an Alzheimer-like state induces the phosphorylation of two serine-proline motifs upstream of the microtubule binding region

    EMBO J.

    (1991)
  • Bramblett, G.T., Goedert, M., Jakes, R., Merrick, S.E., Trojanowski, J.Q. and Lee, V.M.-Y., The abnormal...
  • BramblettG.T. et al.

    Regions with abundant neurofibrillary pathology in human brain exhibit a selective reduction in levels of binding-competent τ and the accumulation of abnormal τ-isoforms (A68 proteins)

    Lab. Invest.

    (1992)
  • BrionJ.P. et al.

    A68 proteins in Alzheimer's disease are composed of several tau isoforms in a phosphorylated state which affects their electrophoretic mobilities

    Biochem. J.

    (1992)
  • Campos-GonzalezR. et al.

    Temperature-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein kinase in epidermal growth factor stimulated human fibroblasts

    Cell Reg.

    (1991)
  • DrewesG. et al.

    Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase transforms tau protein into an Alzheimer-like state

    EMBO J.

    (1992)
  • Cited by (0)

    Supported in part by NIH Grants AG-09215, AG-10124, AG-09399, AG-10210 and the Miller Family Fund.

    *

    We thank our colleagues in the Department of Neurology, Psychiatry

    View full text