An electronmicroscopic study of the distribution of myelin basic protein in multilayer dispersions of diacylphosphatidylserine

Myelin basic protein component C1 in increasing concentrations can elicit fusion, aggregation, and fragmentation of myelin-like membranes

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is considered to have a primary role in the formation and maintenance of the myelin sheath. Many studies using artificial vesicle systems of simple lipid composition, and generally small size, have shown that MBP can elicit vesicle fusion, aggregation, or even fragmentation under different conditions. Here, we have studied the effects of increasing concentrations of bovine MBP charge isomer C1 (MBP/C1) on large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine (92:8 molar ratio), or with a lipid composition similar to that of the myelin membrane in vivo (Cyt-LUVs). Using absorbance spectrophotometry, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, we have shown that vesicle aggregation and some vesicle fusion occurred upon addition of MBP/C1, and as the molar protein-lipid ratio increased. Fragmentation of Cyt-LUVs was observed at very high protein concentrations. These results showed that the phenomena of vesicle fusion, aggregation, and fragmentation can all be observed in one in vitro system, but were dependent on lipid composition and on the relative proportions of protein and lipid.

Immuno gold staining (IGS) for electron microscopical demonstration of glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein in LR white embedded tissue

Post-embedding immunocytochemical staining methods using gold have so far failed to label intermediate filament antigens in situ in epon or araldite embedded tissue. We have now applied the post-embedding immuno gold staining (IGS) technique for LR White embedded tissue. Glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein immunoreactivity was clearly demonstrated electron microscopically on astrocytic filaments of rat cerebellum in situ.

Suppression of chronic-relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in strain-13 guinea pigs by administration of liposome-associated myelin basic protein

Juvenile strain-13 guinea pigs were challenged with isologous spinal cord in CFA. After recovery from the first EAE episode the animals were treated with guinea pig MBP inserted into liposomes, with cytochrome-c-liposomes, with MBP in saline or with MBP in IFA. Guinea pigs treated with MBP-liposomes showed a striking reduction in clinical signs and in the number and intensity of relapses. They displayed virtually no demyelinating lesions, and had comparatively little parenchymal inflammation in the spinal cord. Early T rosette levels showed an inverse correlation with the severity of histological lesions in the spinal cord but correlation with the clinical status at the time of rosette assay was less well defined.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the association of basic proteins with multilayers of diacyl phosphatidylserine

Lysozyme, cytochrome c, poly(L-lysine), myelin basic protein and ribonuclease were used to form multilayer dispersions containing about 50% protein (by weight) with bovine brain diacyl phosphatidylserine (PS). 31P nuclear magnetic resonance shift anisotropies, spin-spin (T2) and spin-lattice (T1) relaxation times for the lipid headgroup phosphorus were measured at 36.44 MHz. At pH 7.5, lysozyme, cytochrome c, poly(L-lysine) and ribonuclease were shown to increase the chemical shift anisotropy of PS by between 12-20%. Myelin basic protein altered the shape of the phosphate resonance, suggesting the presence of two lipid components, one of which had a modified headgroup conformation. The presence of cytochrome c led to the formation of a narrow spike at the isotropic shift position of the spectrum. Of the various proteins or peptides we have studied, only poly(L-lysine) and cytochrome c had any effect on the T1 of PS (1050 ms). Both caused a 20-30% decrease in T1 of the lamellar-phase phosphate peak. The narrow peak in the presence of cytochrome c had a very short T1 of 156 ms. The possibility is considered that the cytochrome Fe3+ contributes to the phosphate relaxation in this case. The effect of all proteins on the T2 of the phosphorus resonance was to cause an increase from the value for pure PS (1.6 ms) to between 2 and 5 ms. The results obtained with proteins are compared with the effects of small ions and intrinsic membrane proteins on the order and motion of the headgroups of lipids in bilayers.