Chemicals and Drugs

tau Proteins

Microtubule-associated proteins that are mainly expressed in neurons. Tau proteins constitute several isoforms and play an important role in the assembly of tubulin monomers into microtubules and in maintaining the cytoskeleton and axonal transport. Aggregation of specific sets of tau proteins in filamentous inclusions is the common feature of intraneuronal and glial fibrillar lesions (NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES; NEUROPIL THREADS) in numerous neurodegenerative disorders (ALZHEIMER DISEASE; TAUOPATHIES).

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Microtubule-associated proteins that are mainly expressed in neurons. Tau proteins constitute several isoforms and play an important role in the assembly of tubulin monomers into microtubules and in maintaining the cytoskeleton and axonal transport. Aggregation of specific sets of tau proteins in filamentous inclusions is the common feature of intraneuronal and glial fibrillar lesions (NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES; NEUROPIL THREADS) in numerous neurodegenerative disorders (ALZHEIMER DISEASE; TAUOPATHIES).

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Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • tau Protein
  • Protein, tau
  • Proteins, tau

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

30 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

1992; use TAU (NM) 1977-91

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins (1986-1991)
  • Microtubules (1976-1985)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D12.776w.220.600.450w.510w
  2. D12.776w.631w.560w.510w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. tau Proteins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016875. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016875
  2. tau Proteins. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_protein
  3. tau Proteins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q419507