Tauopathy in AD and FTD - Molecular Determinants of Phenotypic Diversity

Columbia University Health Sciences, New York NY

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Abstract

SUMMARY Tauopathy i n A D a n d F T D is associated with diverse disease syndromes, and e s p e c i a l l y f o r F T D , there is variability in phenotype even w i t h i n f a m i l i e s , a n d between patients with the same mutation. Currently, little is known about why abnormal tau can give rise to such varied phenotypes, but recent data have suggested that subtypes of tau (strains) might underlie this diversity. Our working hypothesis is that p h e n o t y p i c d i v e r s i t y i n t h e t a u o p a t h i e s r e f l e c t s t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f differentstrainsthatimpactdifferentbrainregions.Ourproposalaimstousebiochemicaland structural analysis techniques to define strains and sophisticated longitudinal imaging to study how and where in the cell strain variants of tau are propagated, and through the use of biosensors, study the effect of different tau strains on cellular processes. Strains will then be inoculated into mice to study pathology morphology and distribution, as well as functional impact. Together, the aims of this proposal will benefit patients w i t h A D a n d F T D by fostering a better understanding of tauopathy, and providing valid cell and animal models for the testing of therapeutics.