Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are heterogeneous group of disorders
that lately become among the most life-threatening disorders affecting the elderly
people. The neurodegenerative disorders that are collectively grouped under the term of
tauopathies are featured by the presence of abundant neurofibrillary lesions made by
accumulation of abnormal hyperphosphorylated microtubule associated protein tau
inside the neurons and/or glial cells. Undoubtedly, tau protein plays a fundamental role
in axonal microtubule network stabilization however, the flexible unfolded structure of
tau enables modification of tau by several intracellular enzymes which in turn extends
tau function and interaction spectrum. The distinctive characteristics of tau protein
alongside the essential role of tau interaction partners in the development and
progression of neuronal neurodegeneration suggest tau and its binding partners as
potential drug targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. This chapter
aims to discuss interaction between mitochondria and tau, and the key molecular
players that interfere with tau proteins in physiological and pathological conditions. We
outline the putative molecular targets and address the mitochondrial critical role based
on research efforts that previously identify their influence on diseases models. Taken
together, no solitary player would trigger the whole pathogenic pathway, we attempted
to give a detailed description of structure, functions and interactions of tau protein in
order to provide insight into potential therapeutic targets for treatment of tauopathies.
Keywords: Mitochondrial Complexes, Molecules, mTOR, PERK, Tauopathy,
Targets.
