Regulation of the Phosphorylation State and Microtubule-Binding Activity of Tau by Protein Phosphatase 2A

Recently, we reported that a pool of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is associated with microtubules. Here, we demonstrate that specific isoforms of PP2A bind and dephosphorylate the neuronal microtubule-associated protein tau. Coexpression of tau and SV40 small t, a specific inhibitor of PP2A, in CV-1, NIH 3T3, or NT2 cells induced the phosphorylation of tau at multiple sites, including Ser-199, Ser-202, Thr-205, Ser-396, and Ser-404. Immunofluorescent and biochemical analyses revealed that hyperphosphorylation correlated with dissociation of tau from microtubules and a loss of tau-induced microtubule stabilization. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that PP2A controls the phosphorylation state of tau in vivo.