The Molecular Interplay of Tau and Motor Proteins on Microtubules

Abstract

Tau is a microtubule (MT)-associated protein essential for neuronal cytoskeletal organization and intracellular transport, yet how tau physically regulates motor proteins remains elusive. Here, we integrate single-molecule imaging, cryo-electron microscopy, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying tau-mediated inhibition of kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein motility. We show that tau suppresses MT landing and triggers frequent pausing and premature detachment when motors encounter tau-enriched patches. Unexpectedly, tau impairs each motor using different mechanisms. Tau and kinesin-1 compete for the same surface on tubulin, precluding simultaneous binding to the same MT site. On the other hand, while dynein and tau can co-occupy the same tubulin, tau inhibits the transition of dynein into its high-affinity MT-binding state. Thus, tau can act as a physical or a conformational roadblock in a concentration-dependent manner, exerting distinct structural constraints on kinesin and dynein transport. These findings establish a structural framework for tau-mediated regulation of axonal transport.