Connexin31.1 deficiency in the mouse impairs object memory and modulates open-field exploration, acetylcholine esterase levels in the striatum, and cAMP response element-binding protein levels in the striatum and piriform cortex.

Neuronal gap junctions in the brain, providing intercellular electrotonic signal transfer, have been implicated in physiological and behavioral correlates of learning and memory. In connexin31.1 (Cx31.1) knockout (KO) mice the coding region of the Cx31.1 gene was replaced by a LacZ reporter gene. We investigated the impact of Cx31.1 deficiency on open-field exploration, the behavioral response to an odor, non-selective attention, learning and memory performance, and the levels of memory-related proteins in the hippocampus, striatum and the piriform cortex. In terms of behavior, the deletion of the Cx31.1 coding DNA in the mouse led to increased exploratory behaviors in a novel environment, and impaired one-trial object recognition at all delays tested. Despite strong Cx31.1 expression in the peripheral and central olfactory system, Cx31.1 KO mice exhibited normal behavioral responses to an odor. We found increased levels of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the striatum of Cx31.1 KO mice. In the piriform cortex the Cx31.1 KO mice had an increased heterogeneity of CREB expression among neurons. In conclusion, gap-junctions featuring the Cx31.1 protein might be involved in open-field exploration as well as object memory and modulate levels of AChE and CREB in the striatum and piriform cortex.

Structure, microtubule interactions, and paired helical filament aggregation by tau mutants of frontotemporal dementias.

We have studied biochemical and structural parameters of several missense and deletion mutants of tau protein (G272V, N279K, DeltaK280, P301L, V337M, R406W) found in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). The mutant proteins were expressed on the basis of both full-length tau (htau40) and constructs derived from the repeat domain. They were analyzed with respect to the capacity to enhance microtubule assembly, binding of tau to microtubules, secondary structure content, and aggregation into Alzheimer-like paired helical or straight filaments. We find that the mutations cause a moderate decrease in microtubule interactions and stabilization, and they show no gross structural changes compared with the natively unfolded conformation of the wild-type protein, but the aggregation into PHFs is strongly enhanced, particularly for the mutants DeltaK280 and P301L. This gain of pathological aggregation would be consistent with the autosomal dominant nature of the disease.

The endogenous and cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of tau protein in living cells: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

In Alzheimer's disease the neuronal microtubule-associated protein tau becomes highly phosphorylated, loses its binding properties, and aggregates into paired helical filaments. There is increasing evidence that the events leading to this hyperphosphorylation are related to mitotic mechanisms. Hence, we have analyzed the physiological phosphorylation of endogenous tau protein in metabolically labeled human neuroblastoma cells and in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with tau. In nonsynchronized cultures the phosphorylation pattern was remarkably similar in both cell lines, suggesting a similar balance of kinases and phosphatases with respect to tau. Using phosphopeptide mapping and sequencing we identified 17 phosphorylation sites comprising 80-90% of the total phosphate incorporated. Most of these are in SP or TP motifs, except S214 and S262. Since phosphorylation of microtubule-associated proteins increases during mitosis, concomitant with increased microtubule dynamics, we analyzed cells mitotically arrested with nocodazole. This revealed that S214 is a prominent phosphorylation site in metaphase, but not in interphase. Phosphorylation of this residue strongly decreases the tau-microtubule interaction in vitro, suppresses microtubule assembly, and may be a key factor in the observed detachment of tau from microtubules during mitosis. Since S214 is also phosphorylated in Alzheimer's disease tau, our results support the view that reactivation of the cell cycle machinery is involved in tau hyperphosphorylation.

Sequential phosphorylation of Tau by glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and protein kinase A at Thr212 and Ser214 generates the Alzheimer-specific epitope of antibody AT100 and requires a paired-helical-filament-like conformation.

AT100 is a monoclonal antibody highly specific for phosphorylated Tau in Alzheimer paired helical filaments. Here we show that the epitope is generated by a complex sequence of sequential phosphorylation, first of Ser199, Ser202 and Thr205 (around the epitope of antibody AT8), next of Thr212 by glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta (a proline-directed kinase), then of Ser214 by protein kinase A (PKA). Conversely, if Ser214 is phosphorylated first it protects Thr212 and the Ser-Pro motifs around the AT8 site against phosphorylation, and the AT100 epitope is not formed. The generation of the AT100 epitope requires a conformation of tau induced by polyanions such as heparin, RNA or poly(Glu), conditions which also favor the formation of paired helical filaments. The Alzheimer-like phosphorylation can be induced by brain extracts. In the extract, the kinases responsible for generating the AT100 epitope are GSK-3beta and PKA, which can be inhibited by their specific inhibitors LiCl and RII, respectively. A cellular model displaying the reaction with AT100 is presented by Sf9 insect cells transfected with Tau. Knowledge of the events and kinases generating the AT100 epitope in cells might allow us to study the degeneration of the cytoskeleton in Alzheimer's disease.