Tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein (MAP) and is abundant in nervous system. It can maintain the structure of neuron cells and support the transport of substance. The self-assembly tangles of Tau protein are loss-of-function and result in total Tau protein increase in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) 、Pick's disease、 Parkinson's disease (PD)、Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Corticobasal degeneration (CBD).^{1, 2}

Tau Protein Control Solution is used as a standard control for “MagQu” Tau protein IMR Reagent (MF-TAU-0060). The antibody conjugated on the surface of Fe₃O₄ magnetic particles (~ 50 nm) could bind with Tau protein and form clusters. With the increase of cluster, the signal of ac susceptibility ( χ_ac ) will decrease in the applied ac magnetic field. That is the principle of Immuno Magnetic Reduction (IMR). By measuring the reduction of χ_ac , we can quantify the Tau protein in the sample easily and accurately.³

References

1. M.J. Chiu, S.Y. Yang, T.F. Chen, J.J. Chieh, T.Z. Huang, P.K. Yip, H.C. Yang, T.W. Cheng, Y.F. Chen, M.S. Hua, and H.E. Horng, “New assay for old markers-plasma beta amyloid of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease”, Curr. Alzheimer Res. 9, 1142 (2012).
2. M.J. Chiu, Y.F. Chen, T.F. Chen, S.Y. Yang, F.P. Gloria Yang, T.W. Tseng, J.J. Chieh, J.C. Rare Chen, K.Y. Tzen, M.S. Hua, and H.E. Horng, “Plasma tau as a window to the brain-negative associations with brain volume and memory function in mild cognitive impairment and early alzheimer's disease”, Human Barin Mapping, 15 Oct. (2013).
3. Che-Chuan Yang, Shieh-Yueh Yang, Jen-Jie Chieh, Herng-Er Horng, Chin-Yih Hong, Hong-Chang Yang, K. H. Chen, B. Y. Shih, Ta-Fu Chen, and Ming-Jang Chiu, “Biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles for specifically detecting biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in vitro”, ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2, 500 (2011).