Neurotoxic dopamine quinone facilitates the assembly of tau into fibrillar polymers

Mol Cell Biochem. 2005 Oct;278(1-2):203-12. doi: 10.1007/s11010-005-7499-6.

Abstract

Aberrant aggregation of microtubule associated protein tau is the main characteristic of different disorders known as tauopathies. Different compounds have been described to facilitate tau aberrant aggregation. In this work, we demonstrate that oxidized products of dopamine (neurotoxic dopamine quinone), a neurotransmitter involved in Parkinson's disease, promote tau polymerization. Curiously, neurons expressing dopamine (substantia nigra) show a low content of tau protein and seldom have tau aggregation in tauopathies. In non-dopaminergic neurons, quinone oxidation products may be involved in tau polymerization. These results support a link between oxidative damage and the onset of tauopathies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzoquinones / metabolism
  • Benzoquinones / pharmacology
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Dopamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Hydroquinones / metabolism
  • Hydroquinones / pharmacology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism
  • Polymers / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / physiology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • tau Proteins / drug effects
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Benzoquinones
  • Hydroquinones
  • Polymers
  • tau Proteins
  • quinone
  • dopamine quinone
  • Dopamine
  • hydroquinone