Healthy Neurons
In healthy neurons, tau protein is confined to microtubules.
© Tami Tolpa
Diseased Neurons
In Alzheimer’s, tau aggregates disrupt the flow of proteins and RNA into and out of the nucleus of neuronal cells and also draw the protein into the cytoplasm. Nup98’s presence in the cytoplasm leads to continued aggregation of tau into the neurofibrillary tangles that serve as a signature of Alzheimer’s disease.
© Tami Tolpa
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