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J M Matthieu

Publications and source records attributed to J M Matthieu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Purification and partial structural and functional characterization of mouse myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

The myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is found exclusively in the CNS, where it is localized on the surface of myelin and oligodendrocyte cytoplasmic membranes. The monoclonal antibody 8-18C5 identifies MOG. Several studies have shown that anti-MOG antibodies can induce demyelination, thus inferring an important role in myelin stability. In this study, we demonstrate that MOG consists of two polypeptides, with molecular masses of 26 and 28 kDa. This doublet becomes a single 25-kDa band after deglycosylation with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid or peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase, indicating that there are no or few O-linked sugars and that the doublet band represents differential glycosylation. Partial trypsin cleavage, which also gave a doublet band of lower molecular weight, confirmed this idea. MOG was purified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by electroelution. Three N-terminal sequences of eight to 26 amino acids were obtained. By western blot analysis, no binding was found between MOG and cerebellar soluble lectin. MOG does not seem to belong to the signal-transducing GTP-binding proteins. Reduced MOG concentrations were observed in jimpy and quaking dysmyelinating mutant mice, giving further support to its localization in compact myelin of the CNS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Triiodothyronine has diverse and multiple stimulating effects on expression of the major myelin protein genes.

If the importance of triiodothyronine (T3) on brain development including myelinogenesis has long been recognized, its mechanism of action at the gene level is still not fully elucidated. We studied the effect of T3 on the expression of myelin protein genes in aggregating brain cell cultures. T3 increases the concentrations of mRNA transcribed from the following four myelin protein genes: myelin basic protein (Mbp), myelin-associated glycoprotein (Mag), proteolipid protein (Plp), and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (Cnp). T3 is not only a triggering signal for oligodendrocyte differentiation, but it has continuous stimulatory effects on myelin gene expression. Transcription in isolated nuclei experiments shows that T3 increases Mag and Cnp transcription rates. After inhibiting transcription with actinomycin D, we measured the half-lives of specific mRNAs. Our results show that T3 increases the stability of mRNA for myelin basic protein, and probably proteolipid protein. In vitro translation followed by myelin basic protein-specific immunoprecipitation showed a direct stimulatory effect of T3 on myelin basic protein mRNA translation. Moreover, this stimulation was higher when the mRNA was already stabilized in culture, indicating that stabilization is achieved through mRNA structural modifications. These results demonstrate the diverse and multiple mechanisms of T3 stimulation of myelin protein genes.

Animals↗

The endogenous lectin cerebellar soluble lectin and its ligands in central nervous system myelin of myelin-deficient (mld) mutant mice.

The myelin-deficient (mld) mutation is autosomal recessive mutation in the murine CNS exhibiting severe hypomyelination. The primary defect results in a drastic reduction of myelin basic protein synthesis caused by a duplication of the myelin basic protein gene with partial inversion of the upstream gene copy. The severe deficit of myelin basic protein is responsible for the absence of the major dense line but cannot explain the heterogeneity of myelin compaction found in mld. We have tested the hypothesis that the endogenous cerebellar soluble lectin (CSL) and/or its endogenous glycoprotein ligands could be involved in myelin abnormalities in the dysmyelinating mutant, mld. Immunocytochemical and immunoblotting techniques showed that the CSL level was not reduced significantly in the mld mutant. Furthermore, two ligands of CSL, the myelin-associated glycoprotein and an axonal glycoprotein, with a relative molecular mass of 31 kDa, were not decreased in level in the purified myelin fraction isolated from mld mice. In contrast, three minor glycoprotein ligands of CSL of relative molecular mass of 23, 18, and 16 kDa were greatly reduced in content. The reduced concentration of these low-molecular-mass glycoproteins in mld myelin suggests that they are constituents of compact myelin. Furthermore, the observation that CSL is specifically localized in vivo in regions where mld myelin is more compact and absent from regions devoid of myelin compaction may suggest that the endogenous CSL lectin, as well as its minor glycoprotein ligands, plays a role in the stabilization of the myelin sheath.

Animals↗

Quantitative differences between homozygous 'USA' and 'Swiss' mld mutant mice.

Parallel developmental studies of central nervous system myelin proteins and morphology (postnatal days 15-118; P15-118) confirm qualitative similarities but substantial quantitative differences between homozygous mld mice with Billings-Gagliardi and Wolf's 'USA' versus Matthieu's 'Swiss' genetic backgrounds. The USA mld/mld have fewer convulsions and significantly longer life span. While whole-brain homogenates from both Swiss and USA mld/mld show increases in myelin basic protein (MBP) and in 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase specific activity with age, at P50 and older the levels of both proteins are approximately twice as high in the Swiss. The number of optic nerve axons myelinated is always greater in Swiss mld/mld, and they have approximately twice as many myelin sheaths showing any apposition of cytoplasmic membrane faces (the location of the major dense line in normal myelin), except at the youngest age. Evidence is presented which suggests that these quantitative differences between Swiss and USA mld stocks most likely reflect different regulatory genes influencing the expression of the same (mld) allele, rather than the presence of a different allele at the MBP locus.

Aging↗

Post-transcriptional events are responsible for low expression of myelin basic protein in myelin deficient mice: role of natural antisense RNA.

Myelin deficient mice (mld) are characterized by tandem duplication of the gene coding for myelin basic protein (MBP). The upstream gene contains a large inversion of the 3' region which includes exons 3-7, and therefore it cannot give rise to mature mRNA and functional protein. MBP and MBP mRNA concentrations in mld brains constitute only approximately 2% of the concentrations present in normal mice. The overall transcription rate of the Mbp gene is normal. In order to explain the discrepancy between mRNA concentration and transcription rate, we studied transcription of each individual gene. The two genes were transcribed independently, although some uninterrupted transcription could not be excluded. The rate of transcription of the upstream gene was higher than that of the downstream gene. This difference was reflected in the concentration of sense and antisense RNA found in nuclei. Our results indicate that the low concentration of the mature mRNA cannot be caused by transcriptional interference. High concentration of nuclear antisense RNA strongly suggests that post-transcriptional regulation occurs in mld mice through formation of double stranded RNA.

Animals↗

Demyelination induced in aggregating brain cell cultures by a monoclonal antibody against myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

A monoclonal antibody (8-18C5) directed against myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) induced demyelination in aggregating brain cell cultures. With increasing doses of anti-MOG antibody in the presence of complement, myelin basic protein (MBP) concentration decreased in a dose-related manner. A similar, albeit less pronounced, effect was observed on specific activity of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase. In the absence of complement, anti-MOG antibody did not induce detectable demyelination. In contrast to the effect of anti-MOG antibody and as expected, anti-MBP antibody did not demyelinate aggregating brain cell cultures in the presence of complement. These results provide additional support to the suggestion that MOG, a quantitatively minor myelin component located on the external side of the myelin membrane, is a good target antigen for antibody-induced demyelination. Indeed, they show that a purified anti-MOG antibody directed against a single epitope on the glycoprotein can produce demyelination, not only in vivo as previously shown, but also in cultures. Such an observation has not been made with polyclonal antisera raised against purified myelin proteins like MBP and proteolipid protein, the major protein components of the myelin membrane, or myelin-associated glycoprotein. These observations may have important implications regarding the possible role of anti-MOG antibodies in demyelinating diseases.

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

Normal composition of the major lipids and the distribution of their fatty acids in central nervous system myelin further discriminate mld from shiverer mice.

The primary defect in myelin deficiency (mld), an autosomal recessive mutation in mice with severe hypomyelination of the central nervous system (CNS), is a reduction in the synthesis of myelin basic protein (MBP) due to reduced amounts of MBP-specific mRNA. The present study was performed to determine whether alterations of myelin lipid composition might be associated with this defect. Although a 20-fold reduction of myelin was found in mld brain, the lipid/protein and the phospholipid/sulfatide ratios of purified myelin were unchanged. The analysis of polar lipids demonstrated no striking difference. However, phosphatidylethanolamine (including plasmalogens of the ethanolamine type) was decreased by 7.7% in mld. Fatty acids of total and polar lipids (phospholipids + glycolipids) exhibited a slight decrease in 20:1(n-11) and 20:1(n-9). In conclusion, these results further differentiate mld from its allele shiverer, which shares with mld a dramatic reduction of MBP and absence of major dense line but, in contrast, presents other important biochemical differences in CNS myelin.

Animals↗

Brain damage and recovery in hyperphenylalaninemic rats.

Rats were made hyperphenylalaninemic by injecting a mixture of alpha-methylphenylalanine and phenylalanine. Brain development was measured by biochemical, histological and 31-P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. In 17-day-old hyperphenylalaninemic rats, brain myelinogenesis was disturbed. Compared to controls, test animals had lower body weights, brain weights, cerebrosides, sulfatides, myelin basic protein (MBP) and reduced cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) and 2'3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) activities. No changes were found in total proteins, total lipids, total phospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphorylethanolamine. In the brain of 17-day-old hyperphenylalaninemic rats no changes in phosphomonoesters, phosphodiester and phosphocreatine were found using in vivo 31-P NMR spectroscopy. Because body weights of hyperphenylalaninemic rats were significantly lower than those of controls, we compared them with undernourished rats. Undernourished rats had lower body weights, brain weights and CNP activity. No other changes were found. Therefore, we conclude that hyperphenylalaninemia per se and not undernutrition affected myelinogenesis in test animals. After treatment was discontinued, test rats recovered completely within 6 weeks with regard to biochemical and histological measurements; at 59 days they had normal body weights, cerebrosides, sulfatides, MBP, total proteins, total lipids, total phospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphorylethanolamine and normal CST and CNP activities. Brain weights were significantly reduced.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗

Myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein expression during development in normal and myelin-deficient mice.

The myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is identified by monoclonal antibody 8-18C5. MOG is localized on the surface of myelin and oligodendrocyte processes. Recently, several studies have shown that MOG plays an important role as a target for antibody-induced demyelination. In the present study, we investigated MOG expression in the brains of normal and myelin-deficient (mld) mutant mice during development. By gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, we observed the developmental pattern of two closely migrating bands, with apparent molecular masses of 26 and 28 kilodaltons. Their concentrations increased coordinately during the most active phase of myelin and myelin basic protein (MBP) synthesis. Between 20 and 25 days of age, the MOG developmental pattern superimposed that of MBP as well as myelin yields. In mld mutant mice, which are affected by a severe deficit of MBP synthesis, MOG was present at reduced levels (40% of controls at 60 days of age). At 85 days of age, mld mice exhibited increased concentrations of MBP, and myelin was better compacted. At this age, MOG concentrations increased and reached 70% of controls. These results suggest that MOG could play a role in the maintenance or completion of the myelin sheath. Its expression level may be modulated by the presence of compact myelin and/or MBP in the myelin sheath.

Animals↗

The duplicated myelin basic protein gene in mld mutant mice does not impair transcription.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) gene organization and expression were analyzed in wild type and myelin deficient (mld) mutant mice. Southern analysis demonstrated MBP gene duplication in mld mice. In addition, we present evidence that one MBP gene in mld mice is normal for at least 14 kilobases (kb) upstream from exon I, whereas the second gene is normal for at least 3.5 kb but not more than 7 kb upstream from exon I. Run-on experiments showed that the rate of MBP gene transcription in mld mice is similar to that seen in normal mice. Detailed analysis of the transcriptional activity of various regions of the gene led us to conclude that all portions of the MBP gene are transcribed in mld mice. Consequently, we propose that the low levels of MBP mRNA observed in these mice (2-5% of the wild-type level) are not due to deficient transcriptional activity.

Animals↗

In vivo labeling of myelin lipids and proteolipid protein with [3H]myristate, [14C]linoleate, and [14C]linolenate.

To investigate the incorporation of essential fatty acids into myelin components, 24-day-old rabbits were injected intracerebrally with [14C]linoleate, [14C]linolenate, or [3H]myristate for comparison. Animals were killed 22 hr later and myelin was isolated. [3H]myristate labeled all myelin lipids including monogalactosyl diglyceride, with the exception of sulfatides. With 14C-essential fatty acids, only glycerophospholipids were efficiently labeled and their specific activities were in the following decreasing orders: PC greater than PI greater than PE greater than PS with [14C]linoleate, and PE greater than PC greater than PI = PS with [14C]linolenate. Among myelin proteins, PLP and DM-20 were labeled with all 3 precursors. PLP was purified from myelin labeled with 14C-essential fatty acids. The label was then cleaved from the protein by alkaline methanolysis and was identified as a dienoic [( 14C]linoleate) or a tetraenoic [( 14C]linolenate) fatty acid. MBP was not labeled with [3H]myristate, but was slightly labeled with both 14C-essential fatty acids. The signification of the latter result is discussed.

Animals↗

Differential ultrastructural localization of myelin basic protein, myelin/oligodendroglial glycoprotein, and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase in the CNS of adult rats.

In a light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study we have examined the distribution of myelin basic protein (MBP), 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP), and myelin/oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG) within CNS myelin sheaths and oligodendrocytes of adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry allowed quantitative analysis of antigen density in different myelin and oligodendrocyte zones: MBP was detectable in high density over the whole myelin sheath, but not in regions of loops, somata, or the oligodendrocyte plasma membrane. CNP reactivity was highest at the myelin/axon interface, and found in lower concentration over the outer lamellae of myelin sheaths, at the cytoplasmic face of oligodendrocyte membranes, and throughout the compact myelin. MOG was preferentially detected at the extracellular surface of myelin sheaths and oligodendrocytes and in only low amounts in the lamellae of compacted myelin and the myelin/axon border zone. Our studies, thus, indicate further the presence of different molecular domains in compact myelin, which may be functionally relevant for the integrity and maintenance of the myelin sheath.

Animals↗

Phase separation of myelin proteins in triton X-114: differential behavior of myelin basic protein in purified myelin and in cultured oligodendrocytes.

Rabbit central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin, as well as nonmyelinating pig oligodendrocytes in culture, were extracted at 0-4 degrees C with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114. The solubilized proteins were partitioned into the detergent-rich and detergent-depleted (aqueous) phases that form upon heating to 37 degrees C. The proteolipid protein (PLP), myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and P0 extracted from myelin were found exclusively in the detergent phase which is characteristic of the intrinsic membrane proteins. This was also the case for Wolfgram protein (WP), although this protein lacks transmembrane domains. A small fraction of the MAG and MOG extracted from oligodendrocytes partitioned into the aqueous phase, suggesting an altered conformation outside myelin or a different state of glycosylation. P2 and myelin basic protein (MBP) showed distinct patterns of behavior. P2 was found mainly in the aqueous phase giving strong support to its theoretically predicted conformation. Eighty-nine percent of the MBP extracted from CNS myelin and 81% of the pure MBP partitioned into the detergent phase. Surprisingly, most of the MBP extracted from the oligodendrocytes was recovered in the aqueous phase. We speculate that, in these cells, a hydrophilic protein might bind to the MBP in a specific manner, thereby preventing it from binding inappropriately to cellular components before its insertion into myelin.

Animals↗

Demyelination in brain cell aggregate cultures, induced by a monoclonal antibody against the myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG).

Previous work has shown that aggregate cultures prepared from fetal rat telencephalon and grown in a chemically defined medium offer a useful model to study developmental processes such as myelin synthesis. Since compact myelin is formed in these cultures, we investigated the possibility to use this culture system to study demyelinating mechanisms. In particular, we examined the effect of a monoclonal antibody (8-18C5) directed against the myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). We found that addition of anti-MOG antibodies and complement to aggregate cultures led to a highly significant decrease in myelin basic protein (MBP) content and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) specific activity. These results indicate that, in our culture system, anti-MOG antibodies have a strong demyelinating effect.

Animals↗