Studies of the catabolism of myelin basic proteins of the rat in situ and in vitro

Regional studies of myelin proteins in human brain and spinal cord

The myelin specific proteins, myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) were quantitated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the activity of the enzyme 2',3'-cyclic 3' phosphohydrolase (CNP) measured, in 27 regions of normal brain and spinal cord. Varying regional concentrations for each protein and regional variations for protein ratios were noted, supporting the concept of a varying chemical composition for myelin throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Variation was also noted among myelin subfractions from a single region. Regions with special sensitivity to the multiple sclerosis process had relatively lower proportions of CNP in several, but not all cases.

Immunocytochemical localization of cathepsin D in rat neural tissue

The localization of cathepsin D (CD) in normal adult rat neural tissue was determined with an indirect immunoperoxidase technique utilizing rabbit anti rat brain CD followed by a horseradish peroxidase conjugate of the Fab portion of goat antirabbit IgG. The immunoreactive enzyme protein was distributed predominantly in a granular pattern, presumably lysosomal, in neurons and choroid plexus epithelium. Smaller amounts were detected in oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells. The neuronal localization included the perikaryon and its processes, was widely distributed, and displayed a range of staining intensities in different anatomical areas. Immunoreactive CD was heavily concentrated in brain stem and spinal cord motoneurons, large neurons of the caudate nucleus, neurons of several nuclear groups, especially the paraventricular and supraoptic, in the hypothalamus, and neurons of superior cervical and dorsal root ganglia. CD was also readily detected in brain stem sensory neurons, pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, inferior olive and Purkinje cells, but was absent or present in very small quantities in the granule cells of the cerebellar cortex, the more superficial layers of the neocortex, and smaller neurons of the caudate nucleus. This distribution suggests that CD may have a major role in specific chemical events in neural functions and peptidergic pathways and could be involved in the alterations of certain neural structures in disease states.

Studies of human myelin proteins during old age

The electrophoretic protein patterns of myelin isolated from frontal and callosal white matter were studied in adult man up to the age of 90 years. The proportions of the four major myelin proteins remained virtually unchanged as did the total protein content of white matter and of purified myelin. The total mass of purified myelin that could be recovered from white matter gradually decreased with age, suggesting an age-related loss of myelin sheath and probably neurons as well, without detectable alterations of the regular protein composition of myelin. In most cases basic protein of myelin was preceded by one or two minor protein components on electrophoresis. One of them is tentatively identified as "prebasic" protein similar to the one previously observed in other species, because of its close electrophoretic apposition to the main basic protein. The second component was found less frequently and was thought to arise from specific types of proteolysis of myelin proteins. Prolonged time intervals between death and autopsy had little, if any, effect on the proportions of basic protein and proteolipid protein. Similar results were obtained when bovine brain was incubated under conditions designed to simulate post-mortem autolysis. It was there fore concluded that meaningful data on proteins of human central myelin may be obtained even though an autopsy was not performed within a few hours of death.

Changes in CNS myelin proteins and glycoproteins after in situ autolysis

The effects of postmortem autolysis in situ on myelin proteins and glycoproteins were studied in 25- and 125-day-old mouse brain and in adult bovine brainstem. In bovine myelin a loss of the major myelin glycoprotein was the only difference observed when the tissue was left at 19 degrees C for 24 hours compared to immediately frozen material. In the autolysed mouse brain, the myelin major glycoprotein was the most affected component with a 55% decrease. Both myelin basic protein components were degraded with a 35% loss. The other myelin proteins did not change under the conditions used for this study. There was also no change in the specific activity of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase, a myelin-associated enzyme. Using the double labelling technique with [3H]fucose and [3 5S] sulfate as precursors injected intracranially, a shift of the major myelin glycoprotein labelled with radioactive sulfate towards a smaller apparent molecular size was observed as a result of the autolysis whereas the electrophoretic mobility of the fucose labelled major peak was unaffected.

The protein composition of bovine myelin-free axons

The proteins of axons prepared from myelinated axons and isolated as myelin-free entities were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis and found to consist of more than 10 different molecular weight species. The molecular weights range from 13 000 to over 200 000 with a prominent protein of molecular weight 47 000. The amino acid composition of the seven major proteins showed that the protein with a molecular weigt of 47 000 is distinct from all the other proteins analyzed. A group of three low molecular weight proteins have amino acid compositions which are similar to each other as do a group of three high molecular weight proteins although the two groups are distinctly different from each other and the major axonal protein. Histones, DNA, myelin basic protein and glycoprotein were absent from the proteins but neurotubule protein was present as indicated by cochicine binding activity in the axonal preparations. The cellular origin of these proteins and their relationship to other central nervous system proteins are discussed.