Figure 1.

Tau is a multi-functional protein. As a microtubule-associated protein tau contributes to microtubule dynamics and participates in neurite outgrowth, axonal transport and trophic signaling enhancement. Moreover, tau participates in cell signal transduction through the modulation of the activity of Src and Fyn kinases and PSD95 protein. In the nucleolar organizing region of cell, tau can also be involved in DNA repair and heat shock responses (left panel). Tau dysfunction leads to microtubule disintegration, tau filaments formation and intraneuronal signaling disorder and, as a consequence, to cell death (right panel).