# Ensemble-based design of tau to inhibit aggregation while preserving biological activity

## TL;DR

Researchers designed modified tau proteins that prevent harmful aggregation while keeping their normal function, offering new insights for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

## Contribution

A novel design strategy for tau that reduces aggregation while preserving microtubule binding is proposed.

## Key findings

- Substitutions near the ‘PGGG’ motif stabilize tau and reduce aggregation in vitro and in cells.
- Modified tau sequences maintain microtubule-binding activity and explain lower pathogenesis in 3R tau isoforms.
- The study proposes a mechanism to reduce pathogenic species while preserving tau's biological function.

## Abstract

The microtubule-associated protein tau is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases characterized by amyloid formation. Mutations associated with frontotemporal dementia increase tau aggregation propensity and disrupt its endogenous microtubule-binding activity. The structural relationship between aggregation propensity and biological activity remains unclear. We employed a multi-disciplinary approach, including computational modeling, NMR, cross-linking mass spectrometry, and cell models to design tau sequences that stabilize its structural ensemble. Our findings reveal that substitutions near the conserved ‘PGGG’ beta-turn motif can modulate local conformation, more stably engaging in interactions with the 306VQIVYK311 amyloid motif to decrease aggregation in vitro and in cells. Designed tau sequences maintain microtubule binding and explain why 3R isoforms of tau exhibit reduced pathogenesis over 4R isoforms. We propose a simple mechanism to reduce the formation of pathogenic species while preserving biological function, offering insights for therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing protein misfolding in neurodegenerative diseases.