Figure 2.

The reformation process. Recruitment of free tau proteins after breaking is incorporated in our model when the loading rate is sufficiently slow (quasistatic loading). (a) By pulling an axon, tau proteins are stretched and the probability of the failure of the tau-tau bond grows exponentially (Eq. 4). (b)The bond connecting the two tau proteins breaks eventually. (c) The broken tail of a free tau protein can reattach to the next available tau and revive its load-transferring role. To see this figure in color, go online.