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H C Agrawal

Publications and source records attributed to H C Agrawal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Proteolipid protein and DM-20 are synthesized by Schwann cells, present in myelin membrane, but they are not fatty acylated.

Proteolipid protein (PLP) and DM-20 were intensely labeled after immunoprecipitation of total cellular proteins and myelin proteins labeled with [35S]methionine in nerve slices. These results provided evidence that PLP and DM-20 are incorporated into the myelin membrane following their synthesis in Schwann cells. In contrast, PLP and DM-20 were not fatty acylated after incubation of the nerve slices with [3H]palmitic acid, however, P0 glycoprotein and 24 kDa protein were heavily fatty acylated. The lack of fatty acylation of PLP and DM-20 in the peripheral nervous system suggests that fatty acyltransferase responsible for their acylation is absent or non-functional in the peripheral nervous system.

Acylation↗
PubMed1990

2',3'cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphodiesterase in peripheral nerve myelin is phosphorylated by a phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase.

2',3' cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) is phosphorylated in the peripheral nervous system after immunoprecipitation of myelin proteins radiolabeled in vivo, in nerve slices and in a cell-free system. Only radiolabeled phosphoserine was detected after partial acid hydrolysis of immunoprecipitated CNP. Two major phosphopeptides were resolved by two dimensional electrophoresis-chromatography after digestion with trypsin of CNP phosphorylated in the nerve slices. Phosphorylation of CNP was not stimulated a) by forskolin in the nerve slices and b) after incubation of purified nerve myelin with cAMP. However, CNP phosphorylation was increased after incubation of PNS myelin with catalytic unit of protein kinase A. Phosphorylation of the central nervous system myelin CNP was dramatically stimulated by cAMP. These results suggest that PKA may be absent from peripheral nerve myelin or CNP may not be accessible to this enzyme in the PNS. Incubation of nerve slices with phorbol 12 myristate-13-acetate caused a marked increase in the phosphorylation of CNP. These results provide strong evidence that CNP is phosphorylated in the PNS and its phosphorylation in vivo is in all probability regulated by protein kinase C.

2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase↗
PubMed1990

2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphodiesterase in the central nervous system is fatty-acylated by thioester linkage.

2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP1 and CNP2 with Mr of 46,000 and 48,000, respectively) is the major enzyme of central nervous system myelin. It is associated with oligodendroglial plasma membrane and uncompacted myelin (myelin-like fraction), which are in contact with glial cytoplasm. Proteins of the myelin-like fraction were labeled with [3H]palmitic acid in brain slices from 17-day-old rats and immunoprecipitated with anti-CNP antiserum. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography of immunoprecipitated material revealed intense acylation of CNP1 and CNP2, and radioactivity was released by hydroxylamine. Palmitic acid was covalently bound to CNP because radioactivity was not removed by extraction of immunoprecipitated CNP with organic solvent or by boiling in sodium dodecyl sulfate and dithiothreitol. However, treatment of immunoprecipitated CNP with (a) hydroxylamine-released palmitohydroxamate and palmitic acid, (b) sodium borohydride-released hexadecanol, and (c) methanolic-KOH-released methyl palmitate. Synthesis, acylation, or transport of CNP was not affected by monensin or colchicine. However, acylation of CNP was inhibited 24-32% by cycloheximide. These results provide conclusive evidence that CNP1 and CNP2 are fatty acid acylated with palmitate through a thioester linkage and is posttranslationally modified sometime after synthesis.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1990

The myelin-associated glycoprotein is phosphorylated in the peripheral nervous system.

Phosphorylation of the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in the peripheral nervous system is demonstrated by immunoprecipitation from myelin proteins radiolabeled in vivo, in nerve slices and in a cell-free system. Phosphoamino acid analysis of immunoprecipitated MAG revealed the presence of radioactivity in phosphoserine, but not in phosphothreonine or phosphotyrosine. Only the shorter isoform of MAG (S-MAG) was detected by immunostaining of nitrocellulose sheets with anti-MAG anti-serum after enzymatic deglycosylation of immunoprecipitated MAG labeled in nerve slices. Autoradiography of the same Western blots revealed that most of the radioactive phosphate was in S-MAG, demonstrating that the polypeptide backbone of S-MAG is phosphorylated in the PNS.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cleavage of the P0 glycoprotein of the rat peripheral nerve myelin: tentative identification of cleavage site and evidence for the precursor-product relationship.

The incubation of sciatic nerve slices in Krebs Ringer bicarbonate (KRB) buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C, or the incubation of freshly isolated myelin in ammonium bicarbonate buffer (pH 8), resulted in the generation of a 24 kDa protein with a concomitant decrease of P0 protein. The conversion of P0 into 24 kDa protein was blocked by heating isolated myelin at 100 degrees C for 5 min suggesting that the reaction is enzyme mediated. Inclusion of the protease inhibitors and chelating agent to isolated myelin did not prevent the formation of 24 kDa protein. Similarly, addition of CaCl2 to isolated myelin did not accentuate the formation of 24 kDa protein suggesting that the conversion of P0 into 24 kDa protein may not be due to Ca2+ activated protease. It is postulated that the formation of 24 kDa protein may be due to neutral protease and/or metalloproteinase associated with the PNS myelin. 24 kDa protein was purified and characterized. The N-terminal sequence of 1-17 amino acid residues of 24 kDa protein was identical to P0. 24 kDa protein was immunostained and immunoprecipitated with anti-P0 antiserum indicating the immunological similarities between P0 and 24 kDa protein. Labeling of 24 kDa protein with [35S]methionine provided evidence that P0 may be in all probability cleaved between Met-168 and Met-193. Further studies were carried out to demonstrate that 24 kDa protein was phosphorylated, glycosylated and acylated like P0. Phosphorylation of 24 kDa protein in the nerve slices was increased five-fold by phorbol esters and phosphoserine was the only phosphoamino acid identified after partial acid hydrolysis of 24 kDa protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of cycloheximide on palmitylation of PO protein of the peripheral nervous system myelin.

Incubation of rat sciatic nerve slices with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing [3H]palmitic acid resulted in the acylation of the PO glycoprotein and a 24 kDa protein of the peripheral nerve myelin. Radioactivity was removed from PO after treating PO with hydroxylamine (83%) and methanolic KOH (97%). These results provided evidence that the radioactivity incorporated into PO was not due to the metabolic conversion of [3H]palmitic acid into amino acids or sugars. PO was more heavily labelled in the homogenate than in the myelin membrane in 8-day-old rat nerve between 5 min and 2 h of incubation. These results suggested that PO may be primarily acylated in the cell body. Incubation of purified myelin with [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA resulted in the non-enzymic acylation of PO. This provided evidence of the absence of fatty acyltransferase from the purified peripheral nerve myelin. Glycosylation of PO has been shown to occur in the Golgi complex, and monensin inhibited glycosylation of PO in the homogenate and myelin by 53 and 61% respectively. These results suggest that the processing of PO in the Golgi complex and the assembly of PO into myelin is impaired by monensin. However, fatty acylation of PO was unimpaired by monensin, suggesting that the addition of fatty acids may not occur in the Golgi complex. There was a progressive decrease in the acylation of PO between 5 min (28%) and 2 h (61%) in the presence of cycloheximide, as the pool of previously synthesized PO was gradually depleted. These results also provide evidence that palmitylation of PO is not coupled to protein synthesis, and acylation of this protein probably occurs in the early subcompartment of the Golgi complex, which appears to be insensitive to monensin.

Acylation↗
PubMed1989

Tumor promoters accentuate phosphorylation of PO: evidence for the presence of protein kinase C in purified PNS myelin.

The effects of carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride and chloroform on phosphorylation of PO was examined. The results of the dose response curve revealed that carbon tetrachloride (0.67%), methylene chloride (2%) and chloroform (1%) induced phosphorylation of PO by approximately 4, 6, and 12-fold, respectively. PO was found to be phosphorylated on the serine residue, and the phosphorylation of the serine residue was markedly increased when PO was phosphorylated in the presence of these compounds. Since tumor promoters, carbon tetrachloride and chloroform, have been shown to activate protein kinase C in platelets it is postulated that the increased phosphorylation of PO may result from the activation of myelin associated protein kinase C. The presence of phospholipid sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) in in purified nerve myelin was demonstrated by increased phosphorylation of PO in the presence of Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cell-free acylation of rat brain myelin proteolipid protein and DM-20.

Incubation of rat brain myelin with [3H]palmitic acid in the presence of ATP, CoA and MgCl2 or [14C]-palmitoyl-CoA in a cell-free system resulted in the selective labelling of 'PLP' [proteolipid protein; Folch & Lees (1951) J. Biol. Chem. 191, 807-817] and 'DM-20' [Agrawal, Burton, Fishman, Mitchell & Prensky (1972) J. Neurochem. 19, 2083-2089] which, after polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in SDS, were revealed by fluorography. These results provide evidence of the association of fatty acid-CoA ligase and acyltransferase in isolated myelin. Palmitic acid is covalently bound to PLP and DM-20, because 70 and 92% of the radioactivity was removed from proteolipid proteins after treatment with hydroxylamine and methanolic NaOH respectively. Incubation of myelin with [3H]palmitic acid in the absence of ATP, CoA, MgCl2, or all three, decreased incorporation of fatty acid into PLP to 3, 55, 18 and 2% respectively. The cell-free system exhibits specificity with respect to the chain length of the fatty acids, since myristic acid is incorporated into PLP at a lower rate when compared with palmitic and oleic acids. The acylation of PLP is an enzymic reaction, since (1) maximum incorporation of [3H]palmitic acid into PLP occurred at physiological temperatures and decreased with an increase in the temperature; (2) acylation of PLP with [3H]palmitic acid and [14C]palmitoyl-CoA was severely inhibited by SDS (0.05%); and (3) the incorporation of fatty acid and palmitoyl-CoA into PLP was substantially decreased by the process of freezing-thawing and freeze-drying of myelin. We have provided evidence that all of the enzymes required for acylation of PLP and DM-20 are present in isolated rat brain myelin. Acylation of PLP in a cell-free system with fatty acids and palmitoyl-CoA suggests that a presynthesized pool of non-acylated PLP and DM-20 is available for acylation.

Acylation↗
PubMed1987

In vitro acylation of myelin PLP and DM-20 in the quaking mouse brain.

Both proteolipid proteins (PLP) and DM-20 were found to be present by the immunoblot technique in myelin isolated from quaking mouse brain; however, the relative concentration of these proteins in myelin from quaking brain was substantially reduced when compared to the control. Brain slices from littermate control and quaking mice were incubated with [3H]palmitic acid to determine the incorporation of fatty acid into myelin proteolipid proteins. Fluorography of gels containing myelin proteins from control and quaking mice brain revealed that both PLP and DM-20 were acylated. The incorporation of [3H]palmitic acid into quaking myelin PLP and DM-20 was reduced by 75% and 20% respectively of those in control brain. The significance of differential acylation of quaking myelin PLP and DM-20 is discussed with respect to availability of non-acylated pools of proteolipid proteins and the activities of acylating enzymes.

Acylation↗
PubMed1987

Anti-neurofilament protein antibodies in opsoclonus-myoclonus.

Opsoclonus-myoclonus (OM) is a neurological disorder usually occurring in infancy, clinically manifested by various involuntary movements. The pathogenesis of OM is unknown, but since the disease often is associated with viral infection or with neuroblastoma, an immunologic basis for OM has been postulated. We have studied two children with OM whose serum contained antibodies directed against the 210 kDa neurofilament protein; these antibodies were not seen in the serum of 21 children with other neurological disorders. Neurofilament proteins, which are found only in neurons, may be of prime importance in neuronal function, especially during development of the nervous system. Our findings suggest that generation of antibodies to the neurofilament proteins can occur in patients with opsoclonus-myoclonus; the role of the anti-NF210K antibodies in the pathogenesis of OM, however, is uncertain.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1986

Appearance and phosphorylation of the 210 kDalton neurofilament protein in newborn rat brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve.

The appearance and in vivo phosphorylation of the 210 kDalton (kD) neurofilament protein (NF210K) in newborn rat brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve were investigated. Electron microscopic examination of neurofilaments isolated from newborn rat brain and spinal cord demonstrated morphologically distinct filaments which contained cross-bridging side arms. Neurofilament proteins, phosphorylated in vivo, were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate slab gel electrophoresis and were transferred from acrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets. The nitrocellulose sheets were treated with antiserum to the 70 kD, 145 kD and 210 kD neurofilament proteins by the immunoblot technique. The three neurofilament proteins were found to be present in newborn brain, spinal cord and sciatic nerve. The presence of NF210K in newborn rat brain was further confirmed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by identification of this protein by the immunoblot technique. Exposure of the immunostained nitrocellulose sheets to x-ray film revealed that the NF210K, NF145K, and NF70K proteins were phosphorylated in filaments prepared from newborn rat central and peripheral nervous systems. These results suggest that the synthesis and posttranslational modification of the neurofilament proteins may be synchronized or developmentally regulated. It is feasible that phosphorylation of the NF210K subunit may be a prerequisite for the formation of neurofilament cross-bridging elements which are necessary for radial growth of axons.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Immunochemical evidence of phosphorylation of a new 23K basic protein in rat brain myelin.

Myelin from developing rat brain (8-44 day-old rat) was incubated in vitro with [gamma-32P]ATP to determine how many basic proteins were phosphorylated. Myelin proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose sheets. The nitrocellulose sheets were stained with antisera to human basic protein by the immunoblot technique. Five basic proteins with molecular weights of 23K, 21.5K, 18.5K, 17K, and 14K were distinctly immunostained. These basic proteins were found to be phosphorylated when the same nitrocellulose sheets were exposed to x-ray film. The in vitro phosphorylation of 23K and 21.5K basic proteins appear to decrease with maturation of the brain. The result of this study suggests that intense phosphorylation of various forms of basic proteins, in particular 23K and 21.5K basic proteins, during the initial stages of myelin formation, may play a pivotal role in the compaction of myelin membrane.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1986

Expression of myelin proteolipid protein and basic protein in normal and dysmyelinating mutant mice.

Expression of myelin proteins was studied in the brains of 21-day-old normal mice and three dysmyelinating mutants-jimpy, quaking, and shiverer. Total brain polyribosomes and poly(A)+ mRNA were translated in two cell-free systems and the levels of synthesis of the myelin basic proteins (MBPs) and proteolipid protein (PLP) were determined. Synthesis of the MBPs in quaking homozygotes was at or above normal levels but PLP synthesis was significantly reduced to approximately 15% of control values, indicating independent effects on the expression of these proteins in this mutant. Immunoblot analysis of 21-day-old quaking brain homogenates showed a reduction in the steady-state levels of MBPs and PLP, suggesting a failure of newly synthesized MBPs to be incorporated into a stable membrane structure such as myelin. In the shiverer mutant very little synthesis of MBPs was observed, whereas greater synthesis of PLP occurred (approximately 50% of control). Almost no MBP, and low levels of PLP, were detected in the immunoblots, suggesting the possibility of a partial failure of PLP to be assembled into myelin in shiverer. In the jimpy mutant, low levels of MBP synthesis were observed in vitro (approximately 26% of controls) and very little synthesis of PLP was evident. The immunoblots of 21-day jimpy brain homogenates revealed no appreciable steady-state levels of PLP or MBP, again indicating that most newly synthesized MBPs were not incorporated into a stable membrane structure in this mutant. In sum, the data show that in the three cases examined, the mutation appears to affect the expression of the MBPs and PLP independently. Furthermore, regardless of their absolute levels of synthesis these proteins may or may not be assembled into myelin.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Electron microscopic immunocytochemical localization of myelin proteolipid protein and myelin basic protein to oligodendrocytes in rat brain during myelination.

Electron microscopic immunocytochemical studies were carried out to localize myelin basic protein and myelin proteolipid protein during the active period of myelination in the developing rat brain using antisera to purified rat brain myelin proteolipid protein and large basic protein. The anti-large basic protein serum was shown by the immunoblot technique to cross-react with all five forms of basic protein present in the myelin of 8-day-old rat brain. Basic protein was localized diffusely in oligodendrocytes and their processes at very early stages in myelination. The immunostaining for basic protein was not specifically associated with any subcellular structures or organelles. The ultrastructural localization of basic protein suggests that it may be involved in fusion of the cytoplasmic faces of the oligodendrocyte processes during compaction of myelin. Immunoreactivity in the oligodendrocyte and myelin due to proteolipid protein appeared at a later stage of myelination than did that due to basic protein. Staining for proteolipid protein in the oligodendrocyte was restricted to the membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, and apparent Golgi vesicles. The early, uncompacted periaxonal wrappings of oligodendrocyte processes were well stained with antiserum to large basic protein whereas staining for proteolipid protein was visible only after the compaction of myelin sheaths had begun. Our evidence indicates that basic protein and proteolipid protein are processed differently by the oligodendrocytes with regard to their subcellular localization and their time of appearance in the developing myelin sheath.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Myelin basic protein and P2 protein are not immunohistochemical markers for Schwann cell neoplasms. A comparative study using antisera to S-100, P2, and myelin basic proteins.

Immunohistochemical localization of tissue specific or cell-specific antigenic markers in neoplastic cells has become an increasingly important tool in the pathologic diagnosis of tumors. The myelin-specific proteins of peripheral nervous system myelin, because they are normally synthesized in Schwann cells, are potentially useful markers for neoplasms arising from peripheral nerves. The authors carried out immunohistochemical studies on 18 cases of Schwann cell neoplasms, including schwannomas, neurofibromas, and granular cell tumors, to determine whether two myelin-specific proteins, myelin basic protein and P2 protein, were present in neoplastic Schwann cells. None of these tumors showed immunostaining for either myelin basic protein or P2 protein in neoplastic cells. In contrast, S-100 protein, which is a well established marker for normal and neoplastic Schwann cells, was localized by immunohistochemistry to neoplastic cells in all 18 neoplasms. Therefore, although myelin basic protein and P2 protein are known to be Schwann-cell-specific proteins, they do not appear to be expressed commonly in neoplastic Schwann cells.

Histocytochemistry↗
PubMed1979

A comparative study of the immunohistochemical localization of basic protein to myelin and oligodendrocytes in rat and chicken brain.

Antisera to highly purified basic protein (BP) from rat and chicken brain were prepared and their purity and specificity demonstrated by double immunodiffusion and cross-immunoadsorption. These antisera were used for immunohistochemical localization of BP in the brains of adult and developing rat and chick. Myelin basic protein was exclusively localized to myelin or the myelin forming elements of the CNS. It was present in high concentrations in white matter and absent in areas free of myelin. Neuronal parikarya and dendrites were negative as were axons cut in cross section and at Nodes of Ranvier. The latter was best observed in cross sections of human spinal cord demonstrating also the immunoreactivity of the antibodies with human BP. The internodal distance in a fine (1.5 micrometer) rat cortical fiber was determined to be approximately 45 micrometers. Myelin basic protein was shown to extend into cranial roots, in contrast to myelin proteolipid protein which abruptly lose fluorescence as the nerves emerged from the brain. During development, BP was first observed on the fourteenth day of incubation in chick and at birth in the rat. The protein appeared in oligodendrocytes and in association with fibers near these cells. Fluorescent processes were frequently observed connecting the oligodendrocytes with the fibers. As myelination progressed, the intensity of the immunohistochemical reaction decreased in the oligodendrocytes while the brightness in fibers increase. Eventually, the oligodendrocytes became undetectable. Fibers with immature myelin exhibited a beaded or varicosed appearance with the highest concentration of immunofluorescence in the outer portion of the varicosities. The varicosities were postulated to represent dilations in the newly forming sheath between intervals of compaction along the axon undergoin myelination. These dilations might represent areas of increased cytoplasmic volume which could serve as channels for transport and/or storage sites for myelin proteins prior to incorporation into the membrane. The varicosities became less prominent with the thickening of the myelin sheath and mature myelinated fibers became smooth. The process of synthesis of BP, transport of the protein to the varicosed fibers, and maturation of the myelin sheath was seen to progress in a more or less caudal to rostral direction as myelination of the CNS takes place. In the rat, this was accomplished over approximately a 30-day period starting near the time of birth. In the chick, most of the myelination was accomplished in the three or four days immediately before hatching. At this time, innumerable oligodendrocytes were observed producing BP simultaneously in the major white fiber tracts. It is postulated that in chick some degree of oligodendrocytic cell death occurs normally during myelination.

Animals↗