# MICROTUBULE PROTEINS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1990 · $127,428

## Abstract

The microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), tau and MAP1B are highly
regulated during normal neuronal development.  Evidence is accumulating
suggesting the re-emergence of fetal characteristics in vulnerable neurons
involved in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology.  Both fetal and adult forms
of tau are known to be integral components of the paired helical filament
(PHF) and preliminary evidence indicates that AD-affected neurons express
high levels of MAP1B.  Therefore, we propose to determine the relative
amounts of both of these proteins in brain regions and to determine the
fetal/adult tau ratios in AD and control brains.  Unlike other studies, we
will attempt to control for neuronal death by also measuring the amount of
neuronal tubulin using a specific monoclonal antibody and expressing the
data as ratios of MAP/neuronal tubulin.  In order to determine other
proteins that may be associated with tau in the PHF or in other aspects of
AD pathology, non-tubulin tau interacting proteins (TIPs) will be
identified and quantified in AD and control brain.  TIPs of demonstrated
importance to ADD will be purified and characterized.  Microtubule binding
studies will be performed using AD and normal soluble tau as well as A68 to
ascertain whether the microtubule binding capabilities of these different
preparations are altered in the disease state.  In addition, existing and
novel monoclonal antibodies will be used to measure the amounts of tau in
cerebral spinal fluids (CSFs) obtained from AD and control patients to
ascertain whether tau can serve as a diagnostic marker for AD.  Successful
completion of these experiments will aid in establishing the degree to
which tau and MAP1B are altered in either their expression, form or
interactions in AD pathology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120845
- **Project number:** 1R01AG009031-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YND4PLMC9AN7
- **Principal Investigator:** Lester Irvin Binder
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $127,428
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1990-05-01 → 1995-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120845

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120845, MICROTUBULE PROTEINS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (1R01AG009031-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120845. Licensed CC0.

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