protein

TAU

Entity Detail — Knowledge Graph Node

Understanding Entity Pages

This page aggregates everything SciDEX knows about TAU: its mechanistic relationships (Knowledge Graph edges), hypotheses targeting it, analyses mentioning it, and supporting scientific papers. The interactive graph below shows its immediate neighbors. All content is AI-synthesized from peer-reviewed literature.

5672Connections
30Hypotheses
30Analyses
50Outgoing
50Incoming
8Experiments
20Debates

Summary

Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) stabilizes neuronal microtubules. Hyperphosphorylation causes detachment and aggregation into neurofibrillary tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer disease and other tauopathies. Pathological tau spreads trans-synaptically and drives neuronal dysfunction.

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🔬 Protein Info
Gene SymbolTAU
Chromosome17q21.31
Protein FamilyMAPT family
Functionis an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases.
Primary Expressionneurons, where they bind to microtubules and promote their polymerization and stability
Subcellular LocalizationAxons, Neurons
Molecular Weight45-65 kDa (isoform dependent)
Amino Acids441 aa
PathwaysExtracellular Aggregation, Hyperphosphorylation, Neurofibrillary Tangle Formation, Protein Assembly, Synapse Pathology
GeneCardsTAU
Human Protein AtlasTAU
Associated DiseasesAD, Aging, Als, Alzheimer, Alzheimer Disease
Known Drugs/Compounds12A12, Disease-modifying therapy, DONANEMAB, DONEPEZIL, Flavonoids, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
InteractionsAB, ABCA1, ABCA7, ABI3, ACE, ACE2
SciDEX HypothesesAPOE should remain under review until replicated
GFAP should remain under review until replicated
BDNF should remain under review until replicated (+2 more)
KG Connections5366 knowledge graph edges
DatabasesGeneCardsUniProtNCBI GeneHPASTRING

Wiki Pages (3)

Knowledge base pages for this entity

Canonical Page

Granulovacuolar Bodies: Neuronal Defense Mechanism Against Tau Pathology

mechanism · 3313 words

AMX0035 CENTAUR Trial

clinical · 1579 words

STAU2 Gene

gene · 711 words

Pathway Diagram

graph TD
    subgraph Pathology["Pathology"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"associated with"| NEURODEGENERATION["NEURODEGENERATION"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"associated with"| ALZHEIMER_S_DISEASE["ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"associated with"| TAUOPATHY["TAUOPATHY"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"associated with"| Alzheimer_2["Alzheimer"]
        AMYLOID["AMYLOID"] -->|"associated with"| TAU["TAU"]
        MICROGLIA["MICROGLIA"] -->|"associated with"| TAU["TAU"]
        NEUROINFLAMMATION["NEUROINFLAMMATION"] -->|"associated with"| TAU["TAU"]
        AUTOPHAGY["AUTOPHAGY"] -->|"associated with"| TAU["TAU"]
        APP["APP"] -->|"associated with"| TAU["TAU"]
        ALS["ALS"] -->|"associated with"| TAU["TAU"]
    end
    subgraph Signaling["Signaling"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"activates"| NEURODEGENERATION_1["NEURODEGENERATION"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"activates"| Alzheimer["Alzheimer"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"activates"| Als["Als"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"activates"| Autophagy["Autophagy"]
        TAU["TAU"] -->|"activates"| Oxidative_Stress["Oxidative Stress"]
    end
    style TAU fill:#006494,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:3px,color:#e0e0e0,font-weight:bold
    style NEURODEGENERATION fill:#5d4400,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style NEURODEGENERATION_1 fill:#5d4400,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style ALZHEIMER_S_DISEASE fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style TAUOPATHY fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Alzheimer fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Als fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Autophagy fill:#1b5e20,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Oxidative_Stress fill:#1b5e20,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Alzheimer_2 fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style AMYLOID fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style MICROGLIA fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style NEUROINFLAMMATION fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style AUTOPHAGY fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style APP fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style ALS fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0

Outgoing (2885)

TargetRelationTypeStr
Dementiacausesdisease1.00
TAU PATHOLOGYactivatesgene1.00
Inflammationregulatesdisease1.00
Alzheimercausesdisease1.00
Agingbiomarker_fordisease1.00

Incoming (2787)

SourceRelationTypeStr
entities-fdg-petinteracts_withwiki0.00
entities-simufilaminteracts_withwiki0.00
entities-overviewinteracts_withwiki0.00
entities-interleukin-6interacts_withwiki0.00
entities-biiib080interacts_withwiki0.00

Targeting Hypotheses (30)

Hypotheses where this entity is a therapeutic target

HypothesisScoreDiseaseAnalysis
GluN2B-Mediated Thalamocortical Control of Glymphatic Tau Cl 0.964 neuroscience Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Closed-loop transcranial focused ultrasound targeting EC-II 0.955 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Microglial-Mediated Tau Clearance Dysfunction via TREM2 Rece 0.937 neuroscience Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Beta-frequency entrainment therapy targeting PV interneuron- 0.884 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Closed-loop tACS targeting EC-II parvalbumin interneurons to 0.869 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Glymphatic-Mediated Tau Clearance Dysfunction 0.865 neuroscience Proteomics Differential Expression in AD
Closed-loop focused ultrasound targeting EC-II PV interneuro 0.863 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
TREM2-Mediated Microglial Dysfunction Disrupts Perivascular 0.861 neuroscience TREM2 in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms
hnRNP A2/B1 Staufen2-Mediated Axonal RNA Granule Transport F 0.851 als -
Microglial-Mediated Tau Clearance Dysfunction via TREM2 Sign 0.827 neuroscience Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Inhibiting Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Receptor-Mediated Ne 0.822 neuroscience Trans-synaptic tau spreading and propaga
MAPT tau seeding and release across AD, FTD, and PD-spectrum 0.812 multi Cross-disease neurodegeneration mechanis
Closed-loop tACS targeting EC-II PV interneurons to suppress 0.811 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
LRP1-Dependent Tau Uptake Disruption 0.808 neurodegeneration Tau propagation mechanisms and therapeut
Closed-loop transcranial focused ultrasound targeting CA1 PV 0.797 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Closed-loop tACS targeting entorhinal cortex layer II SST in 0.784 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
TREM2-mediated microglial tau clearance enhancement 0.780 neurodegeneration Tau propagation mechanisms and therapeut
Sleep-Dependent Glymphatic Clearance Expands the Therapeutic 0.780 neurodegeneration What is the therapeutic window between t
PINK1/Parkin–TREM2 Axis: Convergent Mitophagy Failure Unifie 0.780 neurodegeneration -
Dual-Circuit Tau Vulnerability Cascade 0.774 neuroscience Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Enhancing Microglial Phagocytosis of Extracellular Tau via T 0.771 neuroscience Trans-synaptic tau spreading and propaga
Lysosomal Cathepsin-Dependent Tau Clearance 0.767 neurodegeneration Does the cancer-cystatin-C-TREM2 pathway
GluN2B-CX3CL1 Axis Controls Microglial Tau Phagocytosis 0.761 neuroscience GluN2B-Mediated Thalamocortical Control
cGAS-STING Pathway Hyperactivation Mediates Tau Propagation 0.760 neurodegeneration Gap 006 analysis (archived stub)
Repeat-domain exposure defines seed-competent tau conformers 0.760 neurodegeneration Seed-competent tau conformers in trans-s
Synaptic Vesicle Cycle Hijacking: Shared Convergent Mechanis 0.760 neurodegeneration -
Closed-loop tACS targeting EC-II SST interneurons to block t 0.752 alzheimers Circuit-level neural dynamics in neurode
Tau/MAP6 ratio as a master switch for microtubule dynamics p 0.750 neurodegeneration -
Tau dysfunction destabilizes labile pool 0.750 neurodegeneration -
LAMP2A Upregulation to Enhance Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy 0.000 proteomics Quantitative proteomics of the aging syn

Mentioning Analyses (30)

Scientific analyses that reference this entity

TREM2 in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms, Therapeutics, and Biomarkers

neurodegeneration | 2026-04-26 | 8 hypotheses Top: 0.861

Does tau dendritic missorting persist independently after Aβ clearance, maintain

neurodegeneration | 2026-04-25 | 7 hypotheses Top: 0.740

Survival Analysis of AD Patient Cohorts: Prognostic Markers and Time-to-Dementia

neurodegeneration | 2026-04-16 | 3 hypotheses Top: 0.895

Gene Co-expression Network Analysis of AD Progression Modules

neurodegeneration | 2026-04-16 | 1 hypotheses Top: 0.844

What molecular mechanisms enable Gal3 to enhance tau fibrillation upon binding t

neurodegeneration | 2026-04-15 | 0 hypotheses

Experiments (8)

Experimental studies targeting or related to this entity

ExperimentTypeDiseaseScoreFeasibilityModelStatusEst. Cost
Plant-based dietary patterns and Alzheimer's disease risk in multiethn clinical Alzheimer's disease and relate 0.950 0.00 human patients proposed N/A
Tau depletion effects on neuronal development in primary cultures exploratory 0.900 0.00 primary rodent neuronal cultur proposed N/A
Differential GWAS of schizophrenia vs PTSD exploratory schizophrenia, post-traumatic 0.900 0.00 human patients - European ance proposed N/A
Tau depletion effects on neuronal development in primary cultures exploratory 0.900 0.00 primary rodent neuronal cultur proposed N/A
Creation and validation of 3xAD-ChAT-Cre mouse model validation Alzheimer's disease 0.900 0.00 3xAD-ChAT-Cre transgenic mice proposed N/A
GTEx brain tissue expression analysis of MAPT/CRHR1 locus exploratory schizophrenia, post-traumatic 0.850 0.00 human brain tissue samples fro proposed N/A
Microtubule domain analysis in adult axons exploratory 0.800 0.00 adult rodent axons proposed N/A
Tau depletion effects on microtubule domains in adult axons exploratory 0.800 0.00 adult rodent neurons proposed N/A

Related Papers (20)

Scientific publications cited in analyses involving this entity

Title & PMIDAuthorsJournalYearCitations
Human and mouse single-nucleus transcriptomics reveal TREM2-dependent and TREM2- [PMID:31932797] Zhou Y, Song WM, Andhey PS, Swain A, Lev Nat Med 2020 1
Targeting Microglial Phagocytosis for Alzheimer's Disease Management: Natural, P [PMID:40641018] Raghuvanshi S, Mazumder A, Das S CNS & neurological disorders d 2026 0
Mapping the Brain's Glymphatic System. [PMID:41751308] Voumvourakis K, Thomaidis NS, Tsiodras S Biomedicines 2026 0
Enhancing TREM2 expression activates microglia and modestly mitigates tau pathol [PMID:40122810] ["Chen Kai", "Li Fuyao", "Zhang Shuwen", Journal of neuroinflammation 2025 0
The APOE-Microglia Axis in Alzheimer's Disease: Functional Divergence and Therap [PMID:40722268] Unknown Brain sciences 2025 0
Melatonin Mitigates Sleep Restriction-Induced Cognitive and Glymphatic Dysfuncti [PMID:40293704] Sun H, Cao Q, He X, Du X, Jiang X, Wu T, Molecular neurobiology 2025 0
Emerging Molecular Targets in Neurodegenerative Disorders: New Avenues for Thera [PMID:40922457] ["Eroglu E", "Harmanci N"] Basic & clinical pharmacology 2025 0
Enhancing TREM2 expression activates microglia and modestly mitigates tau pathol [PMID:40122810] ["Chen Kai", "Li Fuyao", "Zhang Shuwen", Journal of neuroinflammation 2025 0
Clearance mechanisms of the glymphatic/lymphatic system in the brain: new therap [PMID:41376656] He Z, Sun J Cognitive neurodynamics 2025 0
Glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: Mechanism [PMID:41152198] Ding J, Zhao C, Hao X, Jiao H Alzheimer's & dementia : the j 2025 0
When sleep fails, brain clearance suffers: the role of glymphatic impairment in [PMID:41315137] ["De la Herr\u00e1n-Arita Alberto K"] Acta neurologica Belgica 2025 0
Targeting Neural Oscillations for Cognitive Enhancement in Alzheimer’s Disease [PMID:40142358] Federica Palacino, P. Manganotti, A. Ben {'name': 'Medicina', 'volume': 2025 0
Soluble CSF1R promotes microglial activation and amyloid clearance in alzheimer' [PMID:41152873] Zhang L, Chen K, Zeng R J Neuroinflammation 2025 0
P-tau217 correlates with neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, and targeting [PMID:38513667] Zhang D, Zhang W, Ming C, Gao X, Yuan H, Neuron 2024 0
The necroptosis cell death pathway drives neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disea [PMID:38852117] Balusu S, De Strooper B Acta neuropathologica 2024 0
Neuropathology of incidental Lewy body & prodromal Parkinson's disease. [PMID:37173733] Koeglsperger T, Rumpf SL, Schließer P, S Molecular neurodegeneration 2023 0
Untangling the Role of TREM2 in Conjugation with Microglia in Neuronal Dysfuncti [PMID:36683512] Basha SC, Ramaiah MJ, Kosagisharaf JR J Alzheimers Dis 2023 0
Oxidized phosphatidylcholines found in multiple sclerosis lesions mediate neurod [PMID:33603230] Dong Y, D'Mello C, Pinsky W, Lozinski BM Nature neuroscience 2021 0
Insulin Resistance and Diabetes Mellitus in Alzheimer's Disease. [PMID:34069890] Burillo J, Marqués P, Jiménez B, Gonzále Cells 2021 0
Impact of 40 Hz Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Cerebral Tau Bur [PMID:34958021] M. Dhaynaut, G. Sprugnoli, D. Cappon {'name': "Journal of Alzheimer 2021 0

Debates (20)

Multi-agent debates referencing this entity

Second debate: Microglial TREM2-SYK Pathway Enhancement

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.57 · 2026-04-28

Extended debate: CYP46A1 Overexpression Gene Therapy

closed · Rounds: 6 · Score: 0.95 · 2026-04-27

Extended debate: TREM2-Dependent Astrocyte-Microglia Cross-talk in Neurodegenera

closed · Rounds: 6 · Score: 0.95 · 2026-04-27

Debate: Chromatin Remodeling-Mediated Nutrient Sensing Restoration

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.46 · 2026-04-27

Debate: LPCAT3-Mediated Lands Cycle Remodeling as the Primary Ferroptotic Primin

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.12 · 2026-04-27

Debate: ALOX15-Driven Enzymatic Ferroptosis in AD Oligodendrocytes via PUFA-PE P

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.42 · 2026-04-27

Debate: LPCAT3-Mediated Lands Cycle Amplification of Ferroptotic Vulnerability i

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.48 · 2026-04-27

Debate: ACSL4-Driven Ferroptotic Priming in Disease-Associated Oligodendrocytes

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.47 · 2026-04-27

Hypothesis debate: TREM2-Mediated Microglial Dysfunction Disrupts Perivascular T

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.50 · 2026-04-27

Hypothesis debate: Membrane Cholesterol Gradient Modulators

closed · Rounds: 4 · Score: 0.50 · 2026-04-27

Related Research

Hypotheses and analyses mentioning TAU in their description or question text

Glymphatic-Mediated Tau Clearance Dysfunction

Score: 0.865 · neuroscience · 2026-04-07

## Mechanistic Overview Glymphatic-Mediated Tau Clearance Dysfunction starts from the claim that modulating MAPT within

Closed-loop focused ultrasound targeting EC-II PV interneurons to restore theta-

Score: 0.863 · alzheimers · 2026-04-07

## Mechanistic Overview Closed-loop focused ultrasound targeting EC-II PV interneurons to restore theta-gamma coupling a

TREM2-Mediated Microglial Dysfunction Disrupts Perivascular Tau Clearance

Score: 0.861 · neuroscience · 2026-04-12

## Mechanistic Overview TREM2-Mediated Microglial Dysfunction Disrupts Perivascular Tau Clearance starts from the claim

Microglial-Mediated Tau Clearance Dysfunction via TREM2 Signaling

Score: 0.827 · neuroscience · 2026-04-07

## Mechanistic Overview Microglial-Mediated Tau Clearance Dysfunction via TREM2 Signaling starts from the claim that mod

Inhibiting Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Receptor-Mediated Neuronal Tau Uptake

Score: 0.822 · neuroscience · 2026-04-22

**Molecular Mechanism and Rationale** The pathological spread of tau protein aggregates represents a central mechanism

MAPT tau seeding and release across AD, FTD, and PD-spectrum disease

Score: 0.812 · multi · 2026-04-28

Shared mechanism across AD, FTD, PD: MAPT dysfunction creates a tau species that can detach from microtubules, aggregate

Closed-loop tACS targeting EC-II PV interneurons to suppress burst firing and bl

Score: 0.811 · alzheimers · 2026-04-05

## Mechanistic Overview Closed-loop tACS targeting EC-II PV interneurons to suppress burst firing and block tau propagat

LRP1-Dependent Tau Uptake Disruption

Score: 0.808 · neurodegeneration · 2026-04-16

## Mechanistic Overview LRP1-Dependent Tau Uptake Disruption starts from the claim that modulating LRP1 within the disea

Closed-loop transcranial focused ultrasound targeting CA1 PV interneurons with r

Score: 0.797 · alzheimers · 2026-04-07

## Mechanistic Overview Closed-loop transcranial focused ultrasound targeting CA1 PV interneurons with real-time gamma f

Closed-loop tACS targeting entorhinal cortex layer II SST interneurons to activa

Score: 0.784 · alzheimers · 2026-04-05

## Mechanistic Overview Closed-loop tACS targeting entorhinal cortex layer II SST interneurons to activate AMPK-autophag

TREM2-mediated microglial tau clearance enhancement

Score: 0.780 · neurodegeneration · 2026-04-16

## Mechanistic Overview TREM2-mediated microglial tau clearance enhancement starts from the claim that modulating TREM2

Sleep-Dependent Glymphatic Clearance Expands the Therapeutic Window by Reducing

Score: 0.780 · neurodegeneration · 2026-04-22

## Mechanistic Overview Sleep-Dependent Glymphatic Clearance Expands the Therapeutic Window by Reducing Extracellular Ta

Dual-Circuit Tau Vulnerability Cascade

Score: 0.774 · neuroscience · 2026-04-07

## Mechanistic Overview Dual-Circuit Tau Vulnerability Cascade starts from the claim that modulating MAPT within the dis