Tau-12: Monoclonal Antibody Specific for the N-terminus of Tau (25105)

A mouse monoclonal antibody specific for residues 9-18 in the amino terminus of tau. The antibody is of the IgG1 isotype and is phosphorylation independent. This epitope is lost after cleavage at Asp13 by caspase-6.

SIGNIFICANCE: Previous work has shown that loss of Tau-12 immunoreactivity in tangles indicates progression to more mature tau pathology. Additionally, the N terminus of tau is lost from tangles in Alzheimer’s disease brains at approximately the same time as caspase cleavage of the C terminus of tau (likely caused by caspase-3). The association of the bilateral cleavage of tau with activation of programmed cell death-associated proteases has grave implications with regard to neuronal viability and suggests an integral role for caspases in tangle evolution. The N-terminal 15 amino acids of tau are required for the formation of the Alz-50 conformation of tau, a conformation known to be a marker for early tangles.

Northwestern is interested in licensing this antibody as a research reagent.

REFERENCES: The generation of the tau-12 antibody is detailed in Exp Neurol. 2002 Oct;177(2):475-93. Additional characterization of the antibody is described in J Neurosci. 2004 Sep 8;24(36):7895-902.

Inventor(s): Lester Binder

Type of Offer: Licensing



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