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Identification of nuclear tau isoforms in human neuroblastoma cells
Loomis PA, Howard TH, Castleberry RP, Binder LI.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1990-11-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The tau proteins have been reported only in association with microtubules and with ribosomes in situ, in the normal central nervous system. In addition, tau has been shown to be an integral component of paired helical filaments, the principal constituent of the neurofibrillary tangles found in brains of patients with Alzheimer disease and of most aged individuals with Down syndrome (trisomy 21). We report here the localization of the well-characterized Tau-1 monoclonal antibody to the nucleolar organizer regions of the acrocentric chromosomes and to their interphase counterpart, the fibrillar component of the nucleolus, in human neuroblastoma cells. Similar localization to the nucleolar organizer regions was also observed in other human cell lines and in one monkey kidney cell line but was not seen in non-primate species. Immunochemically, we further demonstrate the existence of the entire tau molecule in the isolated nuclei of neuroblastoma cells. Nuclear tau proteins, like the tau proteins of the paired helical filaments, cannot be extracted in standard SDS-containing electrophoresis sample buffer but require pretreatment with formic acid prior to immunoblot analysis. This work indicates that tau may function in processes not directly associated with microtubules and that highly insoluble complexes of tau may also play a role in normal cellular physiology.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Loomis, P. A., Howard, T. H., Castleberry, R. P., & Binder, L. I. (1990). Identification of nuclear tau isoforms in human neuroblastoma cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.21.8422
Vancouver
Loomis PA, Howard TH, Castleberry RP, Binder LI. Identification of nuclear tau isoforms in human neuroblastoma cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 1990. doi:10.1073/pnas.87.21.8422. PMID: 1700432.
BibTeX
@article{loomis1990-1700432,
author = {Loomis, P. A. and Howard, T. H. and Castleberry, R. P. and Binder, L. I.},
title = {{Identification of nuclear tau isoforms in human neuroblastoma cells}},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
year = {1990},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.87.21.8422},
pmid = {1700432},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.21.8422}
}
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Key findings
- This work indicates that tau may function in processes not directly associated with microtubules and that highly insoluble complexes of tau may also play a role in normal cellular physiology.
Why it matters
This laboratory study in human neuroblastoma cells found tau in the nucleolus and in isolated nuclei, suggesting tau may have functions not directly tied to microtubules. It is early cell-based work and does not show any way to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: journal h-index 1,167 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1990 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 219 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.8 citations a year over 38 year(s) since 1990 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Lester I. Binder: h-index 79 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham: institution h-index 1,118 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 1700432) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
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