Sedimentation and Laser Light Scattering Methods for Quantifying Synthetic Tau Aggregation Propensity

Abstract

Tau aggregation assays detect and quantify the conversion of soluble tau monomers into species having filamentous or oligomeric structure. Assays for filamentous aggregates in cross-β-sheet conformation leverage optical, biochemical, or biophysical methods, each with their own advantages and throughput capacity. Here we provide protocols for two medium-throughput assays based on sedimentation and laser light scattering and compare their performance, their utility for characterizing tau aggregation dynamics, and their limitations relative to other approaches. Additionally, a protocol for transmission electron microscopy analysis is updated so as to be compatible with the truncated tau variants that have emerged as powerful tools for interrogating the structural basis of tau polymorphism. Together these methods contribute to a rich tool kit for interrogating tau aggregation kinetics and propensity over a wide range of experimental conditions.

Keywords: Aggregation dynamics; Laser light scattering; Sedimentation; Tau protein; Transmission electron microscopy.