ULTIMATE COMPUTING - Quantum Consciousness Studies

102 Cytoskeleton/Cytocomputer
Figure 5.16: MAP attachment patterns.
Tau heterogeneity varies during brain development and these changes result
in the predominance of different tau polypeptides in mature cerebral cortex and
cerebellum. Binder, Frankfurter, and Rebhun (1986) propose that MAP 2 binding
sites result from genetically determined forms of tubulin which are predominant
in neural cell bodies and dendrites, while the tau binding domains are specified by
axonal tubulins. They suspect that different tau species appearing during
development may herald the cytoskeletal differentiation of unique axonal
subpopulations whose MT are committed to slightly different tasks. Variability
and responsibilities of MAPs may be extensive. They are functional appendages,
structural and communicative links (“arbiters”), and essential integrators of
cytoskeletal and cellular function.