Modeling Taupathies in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>)

Abstract

Taupathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of tau-protein in the brain, causing clinical dementia. Tau protein stabilizes microtubules and regulates axonal transport, however, when hyper-phosphorylated, aggregates in the brain. Taupaties can be divided into primary and secondary (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). Experimental animal models models are an important tool to study taupathies. Here, we discuss molecular mechanisms of taupathies and their existing experimental models in both rodents and novel alternative organisms, zebrafish (Danio rerio), as well as future novel directions of research in this field.