Alzheimer’s Disease

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

The tau protein is a microtubule associated protein found mostly in neuronal cells where it regulates the stability of axonal microtubules as well as kinesin-dependent transport. Tau is relevant in the study of various neurological disorders as abnormal post translational modifications can alter its structure and lead to protein aggregates. Tau is present on microtubules in neuronal cells and is also associated with the plasma membrane.

What is the Cellular Role of the CD11 Protein?

The CD11 protein is actually a heterodimer complex that consists of CD11b and CD18. CD11 is involved in numerous adhesion-related associations between cells such as monocytes, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and granulocytes. CD11 also regulates the uptake of complement-coated particles within cells. It has also gained usage as a microglial marker for tissues derived from the nervous system.

The protein PINK1 is a mitochondrial-located serine/threonine kinase (PTK) that maintains organelle function and integrity. It not only protects organelles from cellular stress, but it also uses the selective auto-phagocytosis process for cleaning and clearing cell damage. Exner et al initially reported that, in humans, a PINK1 deficiency is linked to autosomal recessive incidences of both neurodegenerative pathology and Parkinson's Disease (PD) (1).