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Expression and regulation of golli products of myelin basic protein gene during in vitro development of oligodendrocytes.

The myelin basic protein (MBP) gene produces two families of proteins, the classic MBPs, important for myelination of the CNS, and the golli proteins, whose biological role in oligodendrocytes (OLs) is still unknown. The goals of this work were to study the in vitro pattern of expression of the golli products during OL differentiation and to compare it with that of the classic MBP products of the gene. Mouse primary glial cultures were analyzed at the mRNA and protein levels with an array of techniques. We found that OLs express golli mRNA primarily during intermediate stages of differentiation, which was confirmed by immunocytochemical analysis. Golli expression was low in proliferating OL progenitors as well as in terminally mature OLs. Golli proteins were found associated with the OL cell soma and nuclei and, to a lesser extent, with the cellular processes. We also found that golli proteins are not targeted to myelin in vitro and in vivo, in contrast to the classic MBPs. Finally, we found that golli expression is regulated during OL development and can be manipulated by growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor, neurotrophin-3, and retinoic acid.

Aging↗

Development of myelination in the human fetal and infant cerebrum: a myelin basic protein immunohistochemical study.

The early development of myelination was studied by means of myelin basic protein (MBP) and luxol fast blue (LFB) stainings of large sections of the cerebral hemispheres. Myelination first occurs in the globus pallidus, pallidothalamic fibers of the posterior internal capsule and the thalamus at 25 weeks, which may be related to the cellular maturation in the globus pallidus and thalamus. Then myelination is observed in the striatum, and precentral and postcentral gyri at 35 weeks, and the anterior internal capsule and optic radiation at 37 weeks. Immunoreactivity with MBP is observed earlier and more strongly in the early myelination period than that with LFB. Thus, MBP may play an important role in myelination and its delay. The macroscopic positivity as to MBP as well as LFB staining may be related to the development of high signal intensity observed in a T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, which was observed 1 to 3 months after the first microscopic appearance of myelin.

Amidines↗

Photolabeling of myelin basic protein in lipid vesicles with the hydrophobic reagent 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)diazirine.

The hydrophobic photolabel 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)diazirine([125I]TID) was used to label myelin basic protein or polylysine in aqueous solution and bound to lipid vesicles of different composition. Although myelin basic protein is a water soluble protein which binds electrostatically only to acidic lipids, unlike polylysine it has several short hydrophobic regions. Myelin basic protein was labeled to a significant extent by TID when in aqueous solution indicating that it has a hydrophobic site which can bind the reagent. However, myelin basic protein was labeled 2-4-times more when bound to the acidic lipids phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, and cerebroside sulfate than when bound to phosphatidylethanolamine, or when in solution in the presence of phosphatidylcholine vesicles. It was labeled 5-7-times more than polylysine bound to acidic lipids. These results suggest that when myelin basic protein is bound to acidic lipids, it is labeled from the lipid bilayer rather than from the aqueous phase. However, this conclusion is not unequivocal because of the possibility of changes in the protein conformation or degree of aggregation upon binding to lipid. Within this limitation the results are consistent with, but do not prove, the concept that some of its hydrophobic residues penetrate partway into the lipid bilayer. However, it is likely that most of the protein is on the surface of the bilayer with its basic residues bound electrostatically to the lipid head groups.

Animals↗

Identification of the ATP.Mg-dependent protein phosphatase activator (FA) as a myelin basic protein kinase in the brain.

The activating factor FA of the ATP.Mg-dependent protein phosphatase FcM was purified to near homogeneity from pig brain by a procedure involving chromatography on phosphocellulose, phosvitin-Sepharose 4B, and Blue Sepharose CL-6B. A specific myelin basic protein (MBP) kinase was found to co-purify with FA in a constant ratio throughout purification. It also proved impossible to separate the two activities on nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and 5-20% sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. Kinetic study indicated that MBP, presumably a substrate for FA, could compete with FcM for FA and thereby prevent the FA-mediated activation of the FcM activity. All the results taken together demonstrate that MBP kinase and FA are localized on the same protein. This, together with the data that FA, by activating the ATP.Mg-dependent phosphatase, promotes the dephosphorylation of [32P]MBP, phosphorylated by FA itself, suggests the evidence for a protein bearing two opposing activities involved in the regulation of brain functions. Moreover, since FA is tightly associated with the purified brain myelin membrane, the results further support the notion that FA may well be an endogenous protein kinase responsible for the cyclic phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of the central nervous system myelin.

Animals↗

Myelin basic protein interaction with zinc and phosphate: fluorescence studies on the water-soluble form of the protein.

The interaction of myelin basic protein (MBP) with zinc and phosphate ions has been studied by using the emission properties of the single tryptophan residue of the protein (Trp-115). The studies have been carried out by means of both static and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. The addition of either zinc to MBP in the presence of phosphate or phosphate to MBP in the presence of zinc resulted in an increase of fluorescence intensity and a blue shift of the emission maximum wavelength. Furthermore, a concomitant increase in the scattering was also detected. Anisotropy decay experiments demonstrated that these effects are due to the formation of MBP molecules into large aggregates. A possible physiological role for such interaction is discussed.

Animals↗

Expression of only one myelin basic protein allele in mouse is compatible with normal myelination.

Myelin deficiency (mld) is an autosomal recessive mutation in mice characterized by a severe myelin deficit in the central nervous system (CNS). The primary defect in mld is a reduction of the synthesis of the myelin basic protein (MBP) and probably lies in a regulatory element of the MBP gene. In young mld heterozygotes, the MBP mRNA and MBP levels are intermediate. In order to study whether reduced levels of MBP gene expression affect myelination, we determined the levels of MBP mRNA and MBP itself in mld heterozygous and control brains, at different ages during development. Total proteins and MBP were also measured in myelin isolated at 25 and 85 days of age. Myelin proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. In addition, we carried out a morphometric analysis on 25- and 85-day-old optic nerves. Our results indicate that in spite of a roughly 50% reduction of MBP gene expression (compared to controls), the amounts of myelin isolated and the concentration of MBP in myelin were normal in heterozygous brains. Nevertheless, morphometric analyses of optic nerves, which myelinate later than the brainstem, showed thinner myelin sheaths in 25-day-old heterozygotes when compared to controls. This difference disappeared at 85 days of age. These results indicate that normal mice synthesize MBP in excess. The synthesis of this extramyelinic pool of MBP represents a safety factor allowing normal myelination to proceed even when MBP synthesis is severely reduced. In mld heterozygotes, a 30-50% reduction of this rate of synthesis can represent a limiting factor and locally delay myelin deposition without affecting the overall myelin content or myelin composition in heterozygous adult brains.

Aging↗

Impulse conduction regulates myelin basic protein phosphorylation in rat optic nerve.

The influence of action potential conduction in myelinated axons on the state of phosphorylation of myelin basic protein was studied in rat optic nerve incubated in vitro. For this purpose we used a technique that permits continuous recording of the responses of nerves to electrical stimulation together with the "back-phosphorylation" assay. Our results indicate that action potential conduction, but not electrical stimulation, increased the state of phosphorylation of myelin basic protein. The increment in basic protein phosphorylation was related to the number of impulses conducted, up to a maximal change which occurred after 12 X 10(3) impulses. Also, the effect of action potential conduction was reversible, since the state of myelin basic protein phosphorylation returned to control levels within 5 min of stopping stimulation. These findings raise the interesting possibility that myelin basic protein phosphorylation plays a role in some dynamic function of myelin, perhaps related to ion transport or to the process of recovery of ionic gradients.

Action Potentials↗

Degradation of myelin basic protein by a membrane-associated metalloprotease: neural distribution of the enzyme.

A metalloprotease activity associated with myelin membrane preparations degrades myelin basic protein (MBP), generating a characteristic fragment designated peptide C (MBP 74-170). Using an immunoblotting assay, peptide C-generating activity was detected in mammalian, avian, reptilian, and amphibian brains. The activity was present in rat brain as early as postnatal day 1 and also in adult rat peripheral nerve. Immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody to the purified enzyme revealed that the metalloprotease was present in oligodendrocytes of optic nerve, of both white and grey matter of spinal cord, and also in the cytoplasm of both myelinating and nonmyelinating Schwann cells of peripheral nerve.

Animals↗

[Myelin basic protein stimulation index of CD 2 cells in the course of steroid treatment].

Myelin basic protein CD 2 lymphocyte stimulation index calculated as the proportion of percentage of myelin basic protein stimulated CD 2 lymphocytes to unstimulated CD 2 lymphocytes was evaluated in a group of 23 multiple sclerosis patients in the course of prednisone or methylprednisolone treatment. After both treatments a decrease of myelin basic protein CD 2 lymphocyte stimulation index was observed, statistically significant after methyloprednisolone medication.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Acidic lipids enhance cathepsin D cleavage of the myelin basic protein.

Some acidic lipids including sulfatide and phosphatidylinositol were found to increase greatly the rate of cathepsin D cleavage of the myelin basic protein. Since a similar effect was seen when the substrate was changed to cytochrome C, but not when the enzyme was changed to pepsin, these acidic lipids seem to be acting on cathepsin D rather than on myelin basic protein itself. Even so, chemical modification studies suggest that this phenomenon is only seen when the myelin basic protein is in its native conformation. Succinylation of MBP increases its rate of cleavage by cathepsin D by at least tenfold and, in addition, with this modified and presumably denatured MBP as substrate, activation of cathepsin D is no longer seen with acidic lipids. These findings suggest that the native conformation of MBP is both an important determinant of its rate of cleavage by cathepsin D and is also essential for observing activation of this reaction by acidic lipids. The acidic lipids seem to alter the "extended active site" of cathepsin D in such a way as to enable this enzyme better to utilize the native myelin basic protein as a substrate. Cathepsin D has previously been implicated as the protease responsible for the release into cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis patients of an encephalitogenic fragment derived from myelin basic protein. It is possible that the elevated levels of cathepsin D and sulfatide that have previously been found associated with multiple sclerosis plaques in vivo act in concert to bring about the rapid cleavage and subsequent loss of the myelin basic protein from these localized regions in the myelin sheath.

Animals↗

Vitamin B12 neuropathy is not due to failure to methylate myelin basic protein.

It has been proposed that the biochemical lesion in subacute combined degeneration of the cord due to vitamin B12 deficiency, is impaired methylation of residue 107 (arginine) in myelin basic protein. We have examined myelin basic protein in brains of rats in which vitamin B12 was inactivated by exposure to nitrous oxide for up to 7 days. In addition brains of fruit bats in which vitamin B12 neuropathy had been produced by feeding washed, and hence vitamin B12-free fruit, were examined. There was no difference in the methylation of arginine 107 in myelin basic protein in these animals as compared to healthy control animals. Rats given an inhibitor of transmethylation reactions (cycloleucine) showed the expected fall in methylation of myelin basic protein.

Animals↗

Induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats and immune response to myelin basic protein in lipid-bound form.

Encephalitogenic activity of myelin basic protein (MBP) isolated in a form retaining binding to all myelin lipids was tested in Lewis rats. Immunization with this new stable lipid-bound and native-like preparation (LB-MBP), induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as intensively as the classical lipid free MBP (LF-MBP). During the course of the disease, high affinity specific response to LB-MBP and high frequency of LB-MBP specific precursors was observed in peripheral lymphoid organs, indicating that the disease occurred in presence of anti LB-MBP specific T-cell responsivity. Short term lines, generated from lymphocytes collected at the onset of the disease from LB-MBP immunized rats, showed a strong dose-dependent response to LB-MBP, but not to LF-MBP. The present data indicate that in rat, LB-MBP maintains encephalitogenic activity and induces expansion of a specific T-cell population. These data suggest also that LB-MBP is a new autoantigen that may be relevant in human diseases.

Animals↗

Interaction of myelin basic protein with gangliosides and ganglioside-phospholipid mixtures.

The interaction of myelin basic protein with monosialoganglioside GM1 was investigated. It was found that the emission maximum of the tryptophan of the protein is blue-shifted due to the interaction. In mixtures of the monosialoganglioside with phosphatidylcholine, the myelin basic protein induces phase separation of the lipids as inferred from differential scanning calorimetry experiments.

Animals↗

New monoclonal antibodies reactive with defined sequential epitopes in human myelin basic protein.

Three new IgG monoclonal antibodies are described which recognise sequential epitopes of the human myelin basic protein (MBP) molecule in amino acid sequences 36-50, 64-75 and 80-89. Two of the secreting hybridomas were prepared by immunisation of mice with synthetic peptides. This procedure appears to generate antibodies of similar affinities to those made using intact myelin basic protein as the immunogen. It has the advantage that antibodies to preselected regions of the molecule can be made at will and the problem of subsequent epitope localisation is simplified. It is possible with synthetic peptides to generate antibodies of specificities which it would be impossible to achieve by immunisation with intact myelin basic protein. The monoclonal antibodies described here should be useful tools in studies of myelin catabolism in vivo and in vitro. Of particular interest is our Clone 22, making an antibody which reacts equally well with intact human MBP and synthetic peptide sequence 80-89 in liquid phase assays. Antibodies of this rare specificity have been claimed to be able to react with the peptides of myelin basic protein found in the spinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Translocation of myelin basic protein mRNA in oligodendrocytes requires microtubules and kinesin.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA is localized to the myelin membranes of oligodendrocytes. When exogenous MBP mRNA is microinjected into oligodendrocytes in culture, it is transported along the processes and localized to the myelin compartment in a multistep intracellular RNA trafficking pathway. In the work described here, oligodendrocytes were treated with agents that affect the cytoskeleton including: nocodazole, to disrupt microtubules; taxol, to stabilize microtubules; cytochalasin, to disrupt microfilaments; and kinesin anti-sense oligonucleotide, to suppress kinesin expression. Digoxigenin-labeled MBP mRNA was microinjected into the treated cells and the extent of translocation of the microinjected RNA was determined by confocal microscopy. Nocodazole, taxol, and kinesin anti-sense oligonucleotide inhibited translocation of microinjected MBP mRNA, while cytochalasin B and kinesin sense oligonucleotide did not. These results indicate that translocation of MBP mRNA in oligodendrocytes requires intact microtubules and kinesin but does not require intact microfilaments. The results are discussed in relation to the current multistep model for intracellular RNA trafficking in oligodendrocytes.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Two proteins bind to a novel motif in the promoter of the myelin basic protein gene from mouse.

The box 1 and 2 motif of the myelin basic protein (MBP) promoter is a potential regulatory sequence of the MBP transcription unit. A DNA fragment that contained the sequence of the box 1 and 2 motif from mouse was synthesized, and its protein binding properties were examined by gel-shift assays. The box 1 and 2 probe and nuclear extracts from mouse brain generated a pattern of six major DNA-protein complexes (a, b, c, d, e, and f). The box 1 and 2 probe and nuclear extracts from oligodendrocyte-like glioma cells 1C10 generated a pattern of DNA-protein complexes that exhibited only complexes a, b, e, and f. Complex b generated by extracts from 1C10 cells, however, was very intense compared to any of the other complexes. It was determined that dephosphorylation of the proteins in nuclear extracts from 1C10 cells with acid phosphatase significantly altered their DNA binding properties. Two proteins of minimum M, approximately 32 and approximately 38 kDa (MBP32 and MBP38) that bind to the box 1 and 2 motif were identified in these nuclear extracts by using a UV crosslinking method. MBP32 and MBP38 are found in cell types and tissues known to express the golli transcription unit of the golli-MBP gene complex and may be involved in the modulation of the MBP unit in those cells.

Animals↗

[Therapeutic effect of myelin basic protein and synthetic encephalitogenic peptide in guinea pigs with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis].

Effect of antigenic factors of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (alkaline protein of myelin and synthetic encephalitogenic peptide) was studied in guinea pigs with distinct manifestations of the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. The animals recovered after prolonged administration of alkaline protein of myelin within 14 days, if they were sensibilized either by bovine alkaline protein of myelin or by synthetic encephalitogenic peptide. Synthetic encephalitogenic peptide was only effective in treatment of the disease caused by the peptide.

Animals↗