In November 1887, Patrick Joseph P.J. Kennedy married Mary Augusta Hickey, daughter of James Hickey of Cork, Ireland, and Margaret M. Field, also of Ireland. Their son, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, was born on September 6, 1888 in East Boston.
Tau is a protein found in neurons, where it works to stabilize the shape and function of the cell. As part of normal function, proteins in the body fold, unfold and refold into different shapes in order to perform specific functions, and when they are no longer needed, they are broken down and recycled by the cell.
Defective proteins that are not disposed of by the body can cause diseases such as Alzheimerâs or Parkinsonâs. Scientists recently succeeded in revealing the structure of the cellular protein degradation machinery (26S proteasome) by combining different methods of structural biology.