K.U.Leuven
  Search for Staff Students Organisational chart Search matrix Keywords

Experimental Genetics Group

Bolleke Abstract   Pijltje
Coexpression of human cdk5 and its activator p35 with human protein tau in neurons in brain of triple transgenic mice.

Neurobiol Dis.
2001 Feb;8(1):32-44.

Van den Haute C1,3, Spittaels K1,3, Van Dorpe J1, Lasrado R1, Vandezande K1, Laenen I1, Geerts H2, Van Leuven F1.

1Experimental Genetics Group, Center for Human Genetics, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
2Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium.
3These authors contributed equally to this work.


The potential contribution of cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (cdk5) to hyperphosphorylate protein tau, as claimed in Alzheimer's disease, was investigated in vivo. We generated single, double, and triple transgenic mice that coexpress human cdk5 and its activator p35 as well as human protein tau in cerebral neurons. Whereas expression and increased cdk5-kinase activity was obtained, as measured in vitro and demonstrated in vivo, neither murine nor human protein tau was appreciably phosphorylated in the brain of double and triple transgenic mice. These mice behaved and reproduced normally. Silver impregnation and immunohistochemistry of brain sections demonstrated that neurofilament proteins became redistributed in apical dendrites of cortical neurons. This suggested a cytoskeletal effect, but no other relevant brain pathology became apparent. These observations indicate that cdk5/p35 is not a major protein tau kinase and that cdk5/p35 did not cause neurodegeneration in mouse brain, as opposed to cdk5/p25.

pdf FULL TEXT
K.U.Leuven - CWIS Copyright © Katholieke Universiteit Leuven | Comments on the content: Fred Van Leuven
Production:Annick Vogels| Most recent update: October 21, 2009 | Disclaimer
URL: http://med.kuleuven.be/legtegg/