MAPT-AS1 Found to Control Tau Protein Production

University College London scientists have identified an antisense long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) involved in controlling the production of tau. The findings, published today in Nature, shed an light on how proteins linked to neurological conditions are produced and controlled, and could pave the way for new treatments for a wide range of dementia-related diseases.

"Tau plays a vital role inside our brain cells: It helps to stabilise and maintain the cytoskeletal structures that allow different materials to be transported to where they need to be. We know that too much tau is detrimental—the excess unused tau converts into toxic species that may be responsible for damaging cells and driving the spread and progression of degenerative disease. However, despite the fact that tau has been studied for more than three decades, until now we did not know how tau protein production is controlled," Roberto Simone, lead author of the study, explained.

"Excitingly, we found that the lncRNA that controls tau is not unique. Other key proteins we know to be involved in neurological conditions, including alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease and beta-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease, are controlled by very similar lncRNAs. This means we may have found the key to regulating the production of a whole range of proteins involved in brain function and the development of these devastating conditions,” research group leader Rohan de Silva added.