Microtubule-associated protein tau gene regulatory DNA sequence (MAPT regulatory sequence)

The Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene regulatory DNA sequence encompasses the promoter and distal enhancer elements that control the transcription of the MAPT gene. This gene encodes the Tau protein, which is essential for stabilizing axonal microtubules in the central nervous system. In neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, Tau protein undergoes pathological changes, including hyperphosphorylation and aggregation into toxic neurofibrillary tangles. Therapeutic strategies targeting the regulatory DNA aim to reduce the overall production of Tau at the transcriptional level, thereby lowering the concentration of both physiological and potentially toxic Tau species. Emerging modalities include engineered zinc finger protein transcription factors (ZFP-TFs) and CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) systems designed to bind specifically to these regulatory sequences and repress gene expression. By modulating Tau levels at the genomic source, these interventions seek to halt or slow the progression of tau-mediated neurodegeneration.

Other names

MAPT promoterMAPT enhancerTau gene regulatory elementsMAPT locus control regionMicrotubule-associated protein tau gene promoter