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Involvement of MAP kinase in the cyclic AMP induction of myelin basic protein gene expression.

Cyclic AMP is involved in the differentiation of oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell progenitors into mature myelin producing cells. The involvement of MAP kinases in this pathway was investigated in the D6P2T cell line. This cell line can be induced to display a differentiated phenotype characterized by myelin basic protein gene expression by increased cyclic AMP. Blocking MAP kinase activity with inhibitors of the activating kinase, MEK, by expression of a dominant negative MAP kinase or by expression of the MAP kinase inactivating phosphatase Mkp-1 all blocked the activation of the myelin basic protein promoter in D6P2T cells. In addition, blocking MAP kinase activation during differentiation of an oligodendrocyte-like cell line, CG4, also leads to inhibition of MBP expression. These findings suggest a role for MAP kinase in the cyclic AMP stimulated expression of the myelin basic protein gene during differentiation.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

Sequence similarities of myelin basic protein promoters from mouse and shark: implications for the control of gene expression in myelinating cells.

To better understand the cell type-specific and coordinated regulation of the myelin protein genes, we cloned and sequenced the shark myelin basic protein (MBP) promoter. An alignment of the shark sequence with the corresponding mouse sequence showed striking similarities. These similarities, together with the results from expression experiments, define two major regions (A and B) within the MBP promoter. Region A is located immediately 5' to the transcription initiation sites and includes five sequences thought to be cis-acting domains. These domains include two boxes of 13 and 12 nucleotides, respectively, separated from each other by 10 nucleotides, an MBP enhancer, and GC, CCAAT, and TATA boxes. Region A also contains a putative exon that codes for 35 amino acids of an unidentified polypeptide. Region B, which is located adjacent to the 5' end of region A, contains two boxes that are 10 and 11 nucleotides long, respectively, and are identical in mouse and shark. We have previously cloned and sequenced the shark glycoprotein zero (P0) promoter. A comparison between the sequences of the rat and shark P0 promoters shows three conserved regions in addition to CCAAT and TATA boxes. The shark P0 promoter is active in the CNS and PNS, and contains a sequence of 13 nucleotides that is located at -159 from the initiation of transcription and is similar to that of the MBP enhancer. The mammalian P0 promoter is active exclusively in the adult PNS and contains a sequence similar to that of the MBP enhancer located adjacent to the 3' side of the transcription initiation site. Sequence similarities and differences between the promoters of the mammalian and shark myelin protein genes will help to identify the basis for the cell type-specific and coordinated expression of these genes.

Animals↗

Purification of a new clathrin assembly protein from bovine brain coated vesicles and its identification as myelin basic protein.

The multimeric clathrin assembly proteins AP-1 and AP-2 with molecular masses of approximately 270 kDa and the monomeric clathrin assembly proteins AP180 and auxilin with molecular masses of approximately 90 kDa catalyze the assembly of clathrin into artificial clathrin baskets under physiological conditions. We have now identified a much smaller approximately 20-kDa clathrin assembly protein in 0.5 M Tris, pH 7.0, extracts of bovine-brain coated vesicles and purified it to near homogeneity. A polyclonal antibody against this protein did not cross-react with any of the other assembly proteins, and sequencing data suggest that this new protein is similar or identical to myelin basic protein (MBP). At a molar ratio of 3 molecules per clathrin triskelion, MBP catalyzes polymerization of clathrin into artificial baskets that appear structurally similar to the baskets assembled by the other assembly proteins. In addition, like the other baskets, the clathrin-MBP baskets are uncoated by hsp70. MBP represents a significant fraction of the total assembly protein activity present in 0.5 M Tris, pH 7.0, extracts of coated vesicles. It is not clear if it acts as an assembly protein in vivo, but because it is well characterized and easily available, MBP will be a useful protein to investigate the mechanism of clathrin assembly and disassembly in vitro.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport↗

Cell-mediated immunity in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: cross reactivity between myelin basic protein and mycobacteria antigens.

Guinea pigs injected with Freund's incomplete adjuvant emulsified with guinea pig spinal cord, purified guinea pig myelin basic protein, or human myelin basic protein showed dermal reactivity to both of the basic proteins as well as to mycobacteria antigens. Animals receiving only mycobacteria antigens expressed dermal reactivity to the sensitizing antigen in addition to basic protein. This cross reactivity may help explain the role of mycobacteria in inducing and protecting against EAE, and may have important implications concerning human demyelinating diseases.

Animals↗

Multiple encephalitogenic peptides of myelin basic protein in A.CA mice.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It is mediated by T cells and is an animal model for the human disease multiple sclerosis. In most mouse strains that are susceptible to induction of EAE by myelin basic protein, a dominant peptide of myelin basic protein is recognized by encephalitogenic T cells. We report here the susceptibility of the A.CA strain (H-2f) to myelin basic protein induced EAE and that multiple peptides of myelin basic protein (1-11, 9-20, and 87-99) can induce disease in these mice. The finding that multiple epitopes of the same self-antigen can elicit EAE in an inbred strain of mouse raises the possibility of more heterogeneity in encephalitogenic peptides of the putative autoantigen in human disease than previous studies have suggested.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gene transfer and expression in oligodendrocytes under the control of myelin basic protein transcriptional control region mediated by adeno-associated virus.

In this study, a rAAV vector carrying a reporter gene, 'humanized' green fluorescent protein (GFP), linked to the transcriptional control region from the myelin basic protein (MBP) gene (a myelin-forming cell-specific gene) was constructed. Transduction of oligodendrocytes was carried out both in vitro and in vivo. The GFP expression was detected for at least 3 weeks in both transduced oligodendrocyte cell line (MOCH-1 cells) and primary cultures of rat oligodendrocytes. Preferential GFP expression in oligodendrocytes was observed in the primary cultures. In contrast, transduction with rAAV carrying the CMV promoter produced stronger GFP fluorescence in various cell types, with the majority of GFP-expressing cells being the astrocytes. Infusion of approximately 6 x 10(9) particles (2 x 10(5) infectious units) of rAAV-MBP-GFP into mouse brains resulted in the GFP expression specifically in white matter. The GFP protein was detected 15 days later by immunostaining, specifically in the oligodendrocytes. No astrocytes were transduced. Our studies suggested that cell types other than neurons in the central nervous system can also be transduced by rAAV using a cell-type-specific transcriptional control region or promoter. The MBP transcriptional control region might be suitable for gene therapy and other neurobiology studies requiring direct targeting to the myelinating cells.

Animals↗

Characterization of a major encephalitogenic T cell epitope in SJL/J mice with synthetic oligopeptides of myelin basic protein.

The C-terminal 89-169 amino acid fragment of myelin basic protein (MBP) causes experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL/J mice. In order to identify the encephalitogenic T cell epitope, we have examined the fine specificity of encephalitogenic SJL/J T cell clones with synthetic peptides derived from the C-terminal 89-169 amino acids of MBP. These peptides were examined for their immunogenic and encephalitogenic activity in the SJL/J mouse. The SJL/J-derived, encephalitogenic T cell clone, 4b.14a, was shown to be responsive to rat myelin basic protein synthetic peptides pR89-101 (VHFFKNIVTPRTP) as well as to intact MBP. Its response was effectively blocked by mAb 10-2.16 (anti-I-As) as was the response to intact MBP. Furthermore, pR89-101 was revealed to be highly immunogenic for the (PLSJ)F1 mouse in terms of lymphocyte proliferation, but not for the PL/J mouse, in spite of the fact that there exists a strong bias to H-2u restricted responses in the (PLSJ)F1 mouse at the T cell level. By using pR89-101, T cells of (PLSJ)F1 origin were revealed to recognize the peptide in association with the I-As molecule on (PLSJ)F1 antigen presenting cells (APC). When examined for encephalitogenicity for the SJL/J mouse, pR89-101 was found to be as encephalitogenic as intact rat MBP. These results demonstrated that MBP peptide pR89-101 is a major encephalitogenic determinant for the SJL/J mouse.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and characterization of a maturation-activated myelin basic protein kinase from sea star oocytes.

A meiosis-activated myelin basic protein (MBP) kinase was purified approximately 8700-fold from soluble post-germinal vesicle breakdown extracts from maturing oocytes of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus. Purification to apparent homogeneity was achieved by sequential chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite, phosphocellulose, phenyl-Sepharose, heparin-Sepharose, polylysine-Sepharose, and Mono-Q. The final product exhibited an apparent molecular mass of approximately 42 kDa by both native gradient and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and this precisely correlated with the chromatographic behavior of the recovered MBP kinase activity on a Superose 6/12 column. The kinase utilized the MBP as the major substrate with little or no phosphorylation of histones (H1, H2A, or H2B), casein, phosvitin, protamine, or 40 S ribosomal proteins. The purified enzyme was relatively insensitive to high concentrations of beta-glycerol phosphate, calmodulin, EGTA, NaCl, sodium fluoride, dithiothreitol, spermine, and heparin but was quite sensitive to inhibition by metal ions such as Mn2+, Zn2+, and Ca2+. The true Km values for ATP and myelin basic protein were determined to be 58 and 25 microM, respectively, using double-reciprocal plots. The purified enzyme was unable to utilize GTP in place of ATP. The enzyme was shown to rapidly undergo autophosphorylation. The autophosphorylation was sensitive to alkali treatment implying that phosphate was incorporated on serine/threonine residues. The properties of this MBP kinase are reminiscent of a protein kinase that is also activated in a cyclic fashion at M-phase during the early cell divisions of sea star and sea urchin embryos (Pelech, S. L., Tombe, R., Meijer, L., and Krebs, E. G. (1988) Dev. Biol. 130, 26-36).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

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.

Animals↗

T-cell recognition of an immunodominant myelin basic protein epitope in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is thought to be an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system mediated by T cells specific for a myelin antigen. Myelin basic protein has been studied as a potential autoantigen in the disease because of its role as an encephalitogen in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and post-viral encephalomyelitis and because of the presence in the blood of multiple sclerosis patients of in vivo-activated T cells reactive to myelin basic protein. Immune involvement in multiple sclerosis has been further suggested by the association with the major histocompatibility complex class II phenotype DR2, DQw1. To define the T-cell specificity toward myelin basic protein, 15,824 short-term T-cell lines were established from multiple sclerosis subjects, subjects with other neurological diseases, and normal controls. Here we report a higher frequency of T-cell lines reactive with a DR2-associated region of myelin basic protein between residues 84-102 in patients with multiple sclerosis compared with controls. A second region, identified between residues 143-168, was recognized equally in multiple sclerosis patients and controls and was associated with the DRw11 phenotype. These DR2 and DRw11 associations were also observed among T-cell lines generated from family members of a multiple sclerosis patient. The immunodominant 84-102 peptide from myelin basic protein was both DR2- and DQw1-restricted among different T-cell lines. These results raise the possibility that this immunodominant region may be encephalitogenic in some DR2+ individuals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells share a common antigenic determinant that cross-reacts with myelin basic protein: identification with monoclonal antibody.

We have produced a monoclonal antibody against myelin basic protein that reacts with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells. This antibody was generated by fusion of mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with delipidated white matter from adult rat corpus callosum. The antibody was characterized via solid-phase radioimmunoassay, immunoblot of SDS-PAGE, and by indirect immunofluorescence staining of monolayer cultures containing oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and Schwann cells. Myelin basic protein (MBP) was shown previously to be present only in myelin producing cells in CNS and PNS (oligodendroglia and Schwann cells) and not in astrocytes. The binding of this monoclonal antibody to all 3 cell types suggests that these cells share a common epitope. This epitope may be related to a common progenitor cell.

Animals↗

Shared human T cell receptor V beta usage to immunodominant regions of myelin basic protein.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) may be an autoimmune disease mediated by T cells specific for a myelin protein. Investigations have demonstrated myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive T cells that were activated in vivo in MS patients, suggesting that MBP may be a target antigen in MS. The variable (V) region of the T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain was examined among 83 T cell lines from both MS patients and healthy subjects that were reactive with the immunodominant region of human MBP (residues 84 to 102) or with a second immunodominant region of MBP (143 to 168). V beta 17 and to a lesser extent V beta 12 were frequently used in recognition of MBP(84-102) among different individuals. In contrast, V beta 17 was very infrequent among lines reactive with MBP (143-168). These data demonstrate shared TCR V beta gene usage for the recognition of immunodominant regions of the human autoantigen MBP. Such TCR structures may be used as targets for specific immunotherapy in MS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interaction of bovine myelin basic protein with triphosphoinositide.

Despite the essential role played by myelin basic protein (MBP) in stabilizing the multilamellar structure of the myelin membrane, attempts at deciphering the structure of MPB have so far failed. Given that MBP is known to specifically interact with the membrane's lipid components, this study was designed to explore the effects of these lipids on the conformation of the protein by examining its interaction with the lipid triphosphoinositide (TPI). MBP was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in myelin extracted from cow's brain and its molecular weight determined. In aqueous solution, MBP showed a random coil structure confirmed by its circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Possible structural changes to the protein induced by different proportions of TPI were also explored. The CD spectra of these mixtures indicated that this lipid fails to induce the adoption of a secondary structure by MBP. We then performed monolayer experiments to evaluate the type of interaction that occurs between MBP and TPI. First, the molecular weight of the protein sample was established to determine the state of the MBP within the monolayer by applying the equation for gases to the so-called gaseous zone of the monolayer for the conditions under which the expression holds. The similar molecular weights yielded by HPLC performed on dissolved samples and by the monolayers suggests that, as in solution, in the membrane the protein exists as a monomer. Monolayer data suggest forces of attraction between the two components and, through thermodynamic calculations, it was established that this interaction is spontaneous and the interaction is of the electrostatic type.

Animals↗

Investigation of the interaction of myelin basic protein with phospholipid bilayers using solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Interaction of bovine myelin basic protein and its constituent charge isomers (C1-C3) with phospholipid bilayers was studied using solid-state NMR experiments on model membranes. 31P NMR experiments on multilamellar vesicles and mechanically aligned bilayers were used to measure the degree of protein-induced disorder in the lipid headgroup region while 2H NMR data provided the disorder caused by the protein in the hydrophobic core of the bilayers. Our results suggest that MBP and its charge isomers neither fragment nor significantly disrupt DMPC, POPC, POPC:POPG, and POPE bilayers. These results demonstrate that the MBP-induced fragmentation of POPC bilayers is due to the freeze-thaw cycles used in the preparation of multilamellar vesicles and not due to intrinsic protein-lipid interactions.

Lipid Bilayers↗

[Expression of myelin basic protein gene in the developing human brain].

The expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) gene in the developing human brain was studied by using Northern dot blot and in situ hybridization with 32P- and biotin-labeled rat MBP cDNA and Diglabeled human MBP cRNA probes so as to explore the relation of temporal and spatial expression of human MBP gene to myelinogenesis and myelination. The results of dot blot analysis showed that the expression of MBP mRNA was near 2.0 A590/microgram of RNA in the fetal brain at 16 weeks of conceptional age, and it increased progressively with development to have 9-fold increment (18 A590/microgram of RNA) in the adult brain. The insitu hybridization was performed with the sections of fetal spinal cord and medulla oblongata at 8-25 weeks of conceptional age, and of pons, midbrain, thalamus, cerebellum and cerebrum at 20, 22 and 25 weeks. The results indicated that the expression of MBP mRNA was found as early as 8-9 weeks and localized within the perinuclear cytoplasm of the scattered cells in the ventral horn of spinal cord and near the basis of the fourth ventricle of medulla oblongata. Whether the above-mentioned labeled cells are neurons or precursors of glial cell remains to be identified because they are larger in size and have more abundant cytoplasm than oligodendrocytes. The labeling of MBP mRNA abruptly increased and spread with the processes of oligodendrocytes to form a network in spinal cord and medulla at 20 weeks; meanwhile, labeling was obvious in pons and scattering in the other brain regions examined.

Adult↗

The association of myelin basic protein with itself and other proteins.

Chromatographic studies were performed to measure myelin basic protein (MBP) interactions by covalently binding a number of different proteins to Sepharose and passing radioactive bovine MBP over these columns. Studies at a variety of pH values, ionic strengths and temperatures revealed that the bovine MBP could interact with itself as well as cytochrome c, lysozyme, and ovalbumin. Chromatographic profiles of elution volume vs. pH revealed that the interaction between MBP and these immobilized proteins was biphasic. The self-association of MBP was found to be strongest between pH 7.4 and 8.1 and at an elevated temperature. Titration of the amino acid residues responsible for the association of MBP with other proteins revealed apparent pKs ranging from 6.10 to 6.70. A pH dependence study at an elevated temperature shifted the apparent pK of the MBP interaction to a lower value with all the proteins except ovalbumin. After destroying 60% of the histidine residues in MBP by photooxidation and passing 125I-labeled photooxidized MBP over Sepharose columns containing immobilized protein, the second phase in binding was decreased significantly with immobilized cytochrome c, lysozyme, and MBP and to a smaller extent with ovalbumin. These results are consistent with the involvement of deprotonated histidine residues in the MBP-protein associations.

Animals↗