In cell models of dopaminergic and hippocampal neurons, six FTDP-17T TAU mutations drive GSK-3β–dependent phosphorylation at Ser202/Ser396/Ser404, producing phospho-tau oligomers that localize to ER and mitochondria, activate ER stress/UPR and mitochondrial pro-apoptotic cascades (ROS, Δψm loss,…

Points to a druggable mechanism—GSK-3β–mediated tau phosphorylation leading to ER/mitochondrial dysfunction—that links tau pathology to dopaminergic neuron loss and offers actionable targets (kinase inhibition, ER/mitochondrial protection) for developing or repurposing therapeutics for…

Heterozygous missense mutations of TAU cause frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 with tau pathology (FTDP-17T). FTDP-17T neurodegeneration of hippocampal and substantia nigra dopaminergic cells causes dementia and parkinsonism motor deficits. FTDP-17T cellular model of mutant TAU-expressing differentiated dopaminergic or hippocampal neurons was utilized to test hypothesis that FTDP-17T (R5H), (N279K), (K298E), (P301S), (K317M) and (G389R) TAUs located in different domains of TAU cause neurodegeneration with the same pathomechanism. (R5H), (N279K), (K298E), (P301S), (K317M) and (G389R) TAUs caused degeneration of dopaminergic or hippocampal neurons via mutation-induced gain-of-neurotoxicity. (R5H), (N279K), (K298E), (P301S), (K317M) and (G389R) mutations promoted Ser202/Ser396/Ser404 phosphorylations of TAU and formation of phospho-FTDP-17T TAUSer202/Ser396/Ser404 oligomers in dopaminergic or hippocampal neurons. GSK-3β inhibitor AR-A014418 completely blocked (R5H), (N279K), (K298E), (P301S), (K317M) and (G389R) TAUs-induced neurotoxicity by preventing (R5H), (N279K), (K298E), (P301S), (K317M) and (G389R) mutations-augmented Ser202/Ser396/Ser404 phosphorylations and genesis of phospho-FTDP-17T TAUSer202/Ser396/Ser404 oligomers. Phospho-(R5H), phospho-(N279K), phospho-(K298E), phospho-(P301S), phospho-(K317M) or phospho-(G389R) TAUSer202/Ser396/Ser404 oligomers were found in ER of dopaminergic or hippocampal neurons and activated ER stress, UPR and ER stress apoptotic signaling. Overexpression of mitochondrial phospho-FTDP-17T TAUSer202/Ser396/Ser404 oligomers caused mitochondrial malfunction via depolarizing mitochondrial membrane potential and oxidative damage by increasing ROS. Phospho-FTDP-17T TAUSer202/Ser396/Ser404 oligomers-evoked upregulation of Noxa, Bim or Puma and mitochondrial defect and oxidative stress excited mitochondrial pro-apoptotic pathway. Our results suggest that shared pathomechanism underlying FTDP-17T (R5H), (N279K), (K298E), (P301S), (K317M) and (G389R) TAUs-induced neurotoxicity is mutation-augmented GSK-3β-mediated Ser202/Ser396/Ser404 phosphorylations and generation of phospho-FTDP-17T TAUSer202/Ser396/Ser404 oligomers, which cause neurodegeneration by stimulating ER stress and mitochondrial pro-apoptotic cascades.