Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal conformational changes in tau protein. Early hyperphosphorylation-induced conformational changes are considered a hallmark of tauopathy, but real-time tracking methods are lacking. Here, we present two novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based tau biosensors that detect such changes with high spatiotemporal resolution at the single-cell level. The TAUCON biosensor measures instantaneous conformational changes in hyperphosphorylated tau within 20 minutes, while the TAUCOM biosensor detects changes in the paper-clip structure of microtubule-associated tau. Our biosensors provide faster and more precise detection than conventional methods and can serve as valuable tools for investigating the initial causes, mechanisms, progression, and treatment of tauopathies.

* Reference

- First author: Sanghyun Ahn¹

- Corresponding author: Tae-Jin Kim^{1 2 3}

  (Pusan National University)

  1. Department of Integrated Biological Science 

  2. Department of Biological Sciences

  3. Institute of System Biology

- Title of original paper: TAUCON and TAUCOM: A novel biosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer for detecting tau hyperphosphorylation-associated cellular pathologies

- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095656632300475X 

- Journal: Biosensors & Bioelectronics

- DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115533