Role of N-terminal tau domain integrity on the survival of cerebellar granule neurons

Although the role of the microtubule-binding domain of the tau protein in the modulation of microtubule assembly is widely established, other possible functions of this protein have been poorly investigated. We have analyzed the effect of adenovirally mediated expression of two fragments of the N-terminal portion – free of microtubule-binding domain – of the tau protein in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). We found that while the expression of the tau (1–230) fragment, as well as of full-length tau, inhibits the onset of apoptosis, the tau (1–44) fragment exerts a powerful toxic action on the same neurons. The antiapoptotic action of tau (1–230) is exerted at the level of Akt-mediated activation of the caspase cascade. On the other hand, the toxic action of the (1–44) fragment is not prevented by inhibitors of CGN apoptosis, but is fully inhibited by NMDA receptor antagonists. These findings point to a novel, physiological role of the N-terminal domain of tau, but also underlay that its possible proteolytic truncation mediated by apoptotic proteases may generate a highly toxic fragment that could contribute to neuronal death.