T. Chris Gamblin

Biography

The presence of abnormal deposits of filamentous tau is thought to be a major part of the neurodegenerative process. For example, the location and amounts of tau pathology in specific regions of the brain correlates with the type and degree of observed dementia in patients. In addition, several mutations in the tau gene have been shown to be directly linked to increased tau pathology and neurodegeneration in familial cases of frontotemporal dementia. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that was originally discovered to associate with microtubules and provide stabilization for these structures. However, in the late 1980's, it was discovered that a "hyperphosphorylated" form of tau was the major component of several pathological structures in Alzheimer's disease known as neuropil threads, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuritic plaques. Further characterization of these structures revealed that the tau present in these structures had self-associated into filamentous structures known as straight filaments and paired-helical filaments. Since that time, numerous diseases have been identified as having significant tau pathology such as Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. The major goal of this laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to the polymerization of the microtubule-associated protein tau into pathological structures observed in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The main thrust of research will involve the detailed investigation of the effects of tau phosphorylation on its ability to polymerize, bind microtubules, and stabilize microtubules. This research will be accomplished using several molecular biology and biochemical approaches, including site-directed mutagenesis, laser light scattering, electron microscopy, and in vitro binding assays.

Research Interest

Role of tau in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders.