The Proline-Rich Domain and the Microtubule Binding Domain of Protein Tau Acting as RNA Binding Domains

Neuronal tau, through its proline-rich domain and the microtubule binding domain, binds to RNA non-sequence-specifically via electrostatic interaction. This binding inhibits the activity of tau. Tau and RNA were also found to co-localize in SH-SY5Y cells suggesting that RNA has opportunities to interact with tau in cells.