Tau is a microtubule binding protein (50 - 70 kDa) that expresses in nerve axons and it has an important role for regulating stability of microtubules in neurons.  

Tau proteins consist of 6 isoforms that are produced by selective splicing as 3 repeats and 4 repeats Tau isoforms.

It has been observed that tauopathy such as Alzheimer's type dementia (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is developed due to abnormal accumulation of Tau. 

Three key features of AD, senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neuronal cell death have been observed in the brain of AD subjects.

It is considered that neurofibrillary tangles are triggered by abnormal accumulation of Tau. The main element of neurofibrillary tangles is called PHF (paired helical filament) and it is accumulated in nerve cells.

Phosphorylated Tau in research - Overexpressed phosphorylated tau is aggregated and becomes a main cause of PHF.  It has been proposed that GSK-3β is involved in the process of the phosphorylation of tau and that amyloid beta promotes this activity. 

It has been observed that the concentration of Tau is very high in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of subjects with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. 

Tau is released into CSF due to neurons being destroyed and is rarely detected in CSF of healthy subjects.

#27811 Human Total Tau ELISA detects human total Tau (all tau isoforms)

#27812 Human Phospho Tau (181P) ELISA specifically detects human Tau that is phosphorylated threonine at position 181

*Total Tau and Phospho Tau (181P) ELISA kits are for research use only.