PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Myelin Basic Protein”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Phosphoprotein phosphatases for myelin basic protein in myelin and cytosol fractions of brain.

Phosphoprotein phosphatase (phosphoprotein phosphohydrolase EC 3.1.3.16) activity for myelin basic protein was found to be present in the myelin fraction of rat brain. The enzyme activity was in a latent form and solubilized by 0.2% Triton X-100 treatment with about 50% increase of activity. The cytosol fraction from bovine brain also had phosphoprotein phosphatase activity for myelin basic protein, which was resolved into at least two peaks of activity on DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Myelin basic protein was the best substrate for both the solubilized myelin fraction and the cytosol enzymes among the substrate proteins tested. The Km values of the solubilized myelin fraction were 4.2 muM for myelin basic protein, 7.4 muM for arginine-rich histone, 8.0 muM for histone mixture and 14.3 muM for protamine, respectively.

Animals↗

Membrane adhesion and other functions for the myelin basic proteins.

The myelin basic proteins are a set of peripheral membrane polypeptides which play an essential role in myelination. Their most well-documented property is the unique ability to 'seal' the cytoplasmic aspects of the myelin membrane, but this is probably not the only function for these highly charged molecules. Despite extensive homology, the individual myelin basic proteins (MBPs) exhibit different expression patterns and biochemical properties, and so it is now believed that the various isoforms are not functionally equivalent in myelinating cells. We now think that while the major MBPs are intracellular adhesion molecules, some of the quantitatively less abundant isoforms that are expressed very early in development may have regulatory effects on the myelination program.

Animals↗

Phospholipid vesicle aggregation induced by human myelin basic protein.

Human myelin basic protein isolated from the brains of individuals who died with multiple sclerosis was more potent in inducing the aggregation of egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles than was the basic protein isolated from the brains of normal individuals. The portion of myelin basic protein which bound to egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles was separated from the free protein by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Similar amounts of basic protein from normal or from multiple sclerosis brains are bound to the lipid and no consistent differences in the NG, N'G dimethyl-arginine content of the protein fractions have been found.

Arginine↗

Identification and characterisation of a cDNA encoding a 17-kDa isoform of rat myelin basic protein.

The myelin basic proteins (MBPs) are the major proteins of the myelin membrane. Multiple MBP mRNAs and protein isoforms are generated by alternative RNA splicing. Here we describe the isolation and characterisation of a cDNA clone encoding a 17-kDa MBP isoform from the rat (Rattus norvegicus). The isoform is a 158-amino acid protein consisting of exons 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the MBP gene. RT-PCR analysis of brain mRNA showed that transcripts encoding the 17-kDa isoform were expressed at higher levels early in post-natal development, up to 7 days post-partum.

Alternative Splicing↗

The isolation, characterization, and lipid-aggregating properties of a citrulline containing myelin basic protein.

Human myelin basic protein was fractionated into its various charge isomers by CM52 cation exchange chromatography. Approximately 25-30% of the total charge applied to the column appeared in the void volume. This material termed "C-8," was further purified by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid analyses of C-8 revealed low Arg (7 residue % in C-8 compared to 11-12 residue % in C-1) and increased Glx residues. The low Arg was accounted for by a corresponding amount of citrulline. Sequence analysis after chemical fragmentation (cyanogen bromide and BNPS-skatole) and enzymatic (cathepsin D and carboxypeptidase S-1) digestion localized the citrulline at residues 25, 31, 122, 130, 159, and 170 of the amino acid sequence. The effect of this loss of positive charge on the ability of the protein to aggregate lipid vesicles was demonstrated with vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine (92.2 mol %) and phosphatidylserine (7.8 mol %). C-1 was the most effective charge isomer, and C-8 was the least effective. The ability of these charge isomers to aggregate vesicles correlated with the net positive charge on each. Vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine alone were not aggregated by lipophilin or any of the charge isomers. However, when lipophilin was incorporated into phosphatidylcholine vesicles (50% w/w), small, optically clear suspensions of vesicles were formed. None of C-1, C-2, or C-3 aggregated these vesicles, but C-8 produced rapid vesicle aggregation. Since the substitution of citrulline for Arg would generate several relatively long apolar sequences, these would enhance the ability of C-8 to interact with the hydrophobic lipophilin molecule, promoting vesicle aggregation by hydrophobic interactions. The mechanism by which citrulline is generated in myelin is not known, although enzymatic conversion has been described in other systems. Studies are underway to elucidate the mechanism by which this post-translational modification is generated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Localization of sites for ionic interaction with lipid in the C-terminal third of the bovine myelin basic protein.

The myelin basic protein from bovine brain tissue was purified and the two peptides obtained by cleavage of the polypeptide chain at the single tryptophan residue were isolated. The interaction of these peptides and the intact basic protein with complex lipids was investigated by following the solubilization of lipid-protein complexes into chloroform in a biphasic solvent system. The C-terminal peptide fragment (residues 117-170) and the intact basic protein both formed chloroform-soluble complexes with acidic lipids, but not with neutral complex lipids. The N-terminal fragment (residues 1-115) did not form chloroform-soluble complexes with either acidic or neutral complex lipids. The molar ratio of lipid to protein that caused a 50% loss of protein from the upper phase to the lower chloroform phase was the same for the intact basic protein as for the smaller C-terminal peptide fragment. Phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol were approximately twice as efficient as sulphatide at causing protein redistribution to the chloroform phase. The results are interpreted as indicating that the sites for ionic interactions between lipid and charged groups on the basic protein of myelin are located in the C-terminal region of the protein molecule.

Amino Acids↗

Charge effects modulate actin assembly by classic myelin basic protein isoforms.

Myelin basic protein (MBP), a highly cationic structural protein of the myelin sheath, is believed to be associated with the cytoskeleton in vivo and interacts with actin in vitro, but little is known about the regulation of this interaction. The rate and extent of actin polymerization induced by 18.5 kDa MBP charge isomers were correlated to charge reduction by post-translational modifications. Increased ionic strength attenuated the initial rate but not the final extent of polymerization achieved. Reduced pH enhanced the rate and extent of polymerization, presumably via partial protonation of intrinsic histidyl residues. The polymerizing activities of the 21.5, 17, and 14 kDa MBP splice variants were not proportionate to their net charges or charge densities. The presence of at least one region derived from exon II or VI of the "classic" MBP gene was required for effective bundling as assessed by light scattering and transmission electron microscopy.

Actins↗

Distribution of proteolipid protein and myelin basic protein in cultured mouse oligodendrocytes: primary vs. secondary cultures.

The distribution of proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) was examined in differentiating oligodendrocytes of primary and secondary mouse brain cell cultures by single- and double-label indirect immunofluorescence. In primary cultures, MBP and PLP were differentially located in oligodendrocytes. MBP became concentrated as fine punctate dots lining the edges of processes and as coarse grains in flattened sheet-like structures. PLP was distributed diffusely throughout cell bodies and processes but was limited to the perimeter of sheets and some processes within sheets. To compare the detailed distribution of PLP and MBP in the absence of underlying cells, a simple method for the growth of isolated oligodendrocytes in secondary cultures was developed. Cells were maintained in primary culture for 39-41 days, harvested by scraping, enriched for oligodendrocytes, and plated at low cell density. After 1 week, isolated oligodendrocytes had developed long processes and large flattened membranous sheets. MBP and PLP were differentially localized in these cell structures. The sheets contained fine-grained patches of MBP, which were surrounded by networks of MBP- processes. In contrast, PLP was initially seen throughout the cell bodies and processes. In older cultures, PLP became strikingly concentrated in curvilinear membranous profiles. The observations show that PLP and MBP are differentially located in cultured mouse oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, the precise distribution of these myelin-specific antigens is dependent on culture conditions.

Animals↗

Transport and localization elements in myelin basic protein mRNA.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA is localized to myelin produced by oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system. MBP mRNA microinjected into oligodendrocytes in primary culture is assembled into granules in the perikaryon, transported along the processes, and localized to the myelin compartment. In this work, microinjection of various deleted and chimeric RNAs was used to delineate regions in MBP mRNA that are required for transport and localization in oligodendrocytes. The results indicate that transport requires a 21-nucleotide sequence, termed the RNA transport signal (RTS), in the 3' UTR of MBP mRNA. Homologous sequences are present in several other localized mRNAs, suggesting that the RTS represents a general transport signal in a variety of different cell types. Insertion of the RTS from MBP mRNA into nontransported mRNAs, causes the RNA to be transported to the oligodendrocyte processes. Localization of mRNA to the myelin compartment requires an additional element, termed the RNA localization region (RLR), contained between nucleotide 1,130 and 1, 473 in the 3' UTR of MBP mRNA. Computer analysis predicts that this region contains a stable secondary structure. If the coding region of the mRNA is deleted, the RLR is no longer required for localization, and the region between nucleotide 667 and 953, containing the RTS, is sufficient for both RNA transport and localization. Thus, localization of coding RNA is RLR dependent, and localization of noncoding RNA is RLR independent, suggesting that they are localized by different pathways.

Actins↗

Differential regulation of oligodendrocyte markers by glucocorticoids: post-transcriptional regulation of both proteolipid protein and myelin basic protein and transcriptional regulation of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase.

During neonatal development glucocorticoids potentiate oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelinogenesis by regulating the expression of myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein, and glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (sn-glycerol-3-phosphate: NAD+ 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.8). The actual locus at which hydrocortisone exerts its developmental influence on glial physiology is, however, not well understood. Glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase is glucocorticoid-inducible in oligodendrocytes at all stages of development both in vivo and in vitro. In newborn rat cerebral cultures, between 9 and 15 days in vitro, a 2- to 3-fold increase in myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein mRNA levels occurs in oligodendrocytes within 12 hr of hydrocortisone treatment. Immunostaining demonstrates that this increase in mRNAs is followed by a 2- to 3-fold increase in the protein levels within 24 hr. In vitro transcription assays performed with oligodendrocyte nuclei show an 11-fold increase in the transcriptional activity of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase in response to hydrocortisone but no increase in transcription of myelin basic protein or proteolipid protein. These results indicate that during early myelinogenesis, glucocorticoids influence the expression of key oligodendroglial markers by different processes: The expression of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase is regulated at the transcriptional level, whereas the expression of myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein is modulated via a different, yet uncharacterized, mechanism involving post-transcriptional regulation.

Animals↗

Gene expression in the jimpy mutant: evidence for fewer oligodendrocytes expressing myelin protein genes and impaired translocation of myelin basic protein mRNA.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP) gene expression was investigated in the murine dysmyelinating mutant, jimpy and age-matched normal mice. MBP and PLP mRNA expression was examined in several brain regions by in situ hybridization histochemistry between 10 and 20 days postpartum. The results showed a general reduction in both PLP and MBP mRNA expression throughout in jimpy brain due primarily to fewer numbers of jimpy oligodendrocytes expressing these genes. A less severe, but significant, reduction in the level of PLP expression per oligodendrocyte was also observed in the mutant brain. Because of the diffuse pattern of MBP mRNA distribution in the controls it was not possible to determine whether MBP expression was reduced on a per cell basis in the jimpy mutant. Silver grains representing MBP mRNAs were diffusely distributed over myelinating regions in normal mice but, in contrast, the grains were primarily clustered over oligodendrocyte cell bodies in the jimpy brains. No significant differences in jimpy oligodendrocyte morphology were evident by galactocerebroside immunohistochemistry. These results suggested that the apparent MBP mRNA clustering was not due to truncated or reduced numbers of oligodendrocyte processes. Rather, they suggest that the inability of jimpy mice to incorporate MBP into myelin may be due, in part, to a disruption in the translocation of MBP mRNAs within the oligodendrocyte.

Aging↗

Characterization of mouse myelin basic protein messenger RNAs with a myelin basic protein cDNA clone.

Using a family of synthetic tetradecamer oligonucleotides as a primer for cDNA synthesis and a second family of tetradecamers as a hybridization probe, we have prepared and isolated a cDNA clone of mouse myelin basic protein (MBP). The clone, pNZ111, corresponds to the region of the mRNA that codes for an amino acid sequence present in all four major forms of MBP. The relative abundance of MBP mRNA, estimated by dot blot hybridization, increased with the age of the mouse to a maximum at 18 days, then decreased to about one-fourth of that amount at later ages. Mouse MBP mRNAs, selected by their ability to hybridize to the clone, translate into the four forms of myelin basic protein. In RNA blot analyses, pNZ111 hybridized to multiple species of mouse mRNA. The predominant hybridization is to a broad band of RNAs ranging in length from 2,350 to 2,100 bases. These mRNA species are extremely long, considering that the largest MBP could be encoded by approximately 600 bases. In addition to these, there are also minor bands that hybridize with pNZ111, including a band of 4,100 bases and smaller ones of 1,900, 1,500, and 1,200 bases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Solution behavior, circular dichroism and 22 HMz PMR studies of the bovine myelin basic protein.

Bovine myelin basic protein has been investigated with regard to its solution behavior, circular dichroism and 220 MHz PMR spectral properties. At pH 4.8 gamma/2=0.1 acetate buffer, light scattering yielded a Mr of 17 700 and a virial coefficient of 1.0-10(-4) mol-ml/g2. Above pH 7.0 the protein was found to aggregate to higher mol. wt species. Sedimentation experiments at pH 4.8 yielded s degrees 20,w of 1.27 S at gamma/2=0.1 and 1.46 S at gamma/2=0.35. The diffusion coefficient determined from ultracentrifugal experiments was 7.25-10(-7) cm2/s at gamma/2=0.1 and 0.35. The value of f/f0 from diffusion at pH 4.8 and gamma/2=0.35 was 1.64, corresponding to an axial ratio of 11 to 1. The radius of gyration was calculated as 4.28 nm and the root mean square end to end distance was 10.5 nm. At pH 9.0, gamma/2=0.1, s degrees 20,w was 1.71 S and D degrees 20,w was estimated at 7.4-10(-7) cm2/s. The behavior at pH 9.0 reverted to the behavior at pH 4.8 when the pH was readjusted. The E1%/1cm=5.64 at 276.4 nm and 225 at 196 nm. Titration of the protein with trifluoroethanol elicited three distinct regions of conformation stability having increasing helical content as the mol fraction of trifluoroethanol increased. The results of the present study have permitted some comparison of analogous properties and conformational behavior with the basic membrane protein cytochrome c.

Animals↗

T-cell response to myelin basic protein and lipid-bound myelin basic protein in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy donors.

An autoimmune T-cell response to myelin proteins is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelin basic protein (MBP) is the most widely studied potential target antigen. We investigated the T-cell response to MBP in MS patients and controls using two different molecular forms of the protein: the classical hydrophilic MBP (lipid-free MBP, LF-MBP) and a lipid-bound, native-like preparation of MBP isolated in a molecular form retaining the binding to all myelin lipids (lipid-bound-MBP, LB-MBP). Short term T-cell lines (TCL) were generated using either LF- or LB-MBP and tested for their reactivity to the in vitro stimulating antigen. No differences were detected between MS patients and healthy donors in the percentage of T-cell cultures responsive to the LF-MBP. In contrast, the number of LB-MBP reactive cultures was higher in MS patients than in controls. This difference was almost entirely due to the presence of high numbers of LB-MBP-specific TCL in MS patients which did not cross-react with LF-MBP and were not present in healthy subjects. LB-MBP may represent a novel antigen worth to be investigated in MS.

Cell Line↗

Investigations on myelinogenesis in vitro: I. The occurrence of endogenous protein kinase and its role in the phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins in "myelin-like membranes" isolated from cerebral cell cultures.

The presence of a protein kinase capable of phosphorylating endogenous as well as exogenously added myelin basic proteins has been demonstrated in a myelin-like membrane fraction isolated from reaggregating and surface adhering, primary cultures of cells dissociated from embryonic mouse brain. Only the large and small components of myelin basic proteins were found to be phosphorylated when myelin-like membrane fraction was incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP. The protein kinase endogenous to the myelin-like membrane fraction was mainly of the cyclic AMP independent type. There was very little cyclic AMP dependent or cyclic GMP dependent protein kinase activities in this myelin-like fraction. Although the myelin basic proteins were the only endogenous proteins phosphorylated, protein kinase of the myelin-like membrane was capable of catalyzing the phosphorylation of exogenous substrates, such as histones.

Animals↗

A novel transcript overlapping the myelin basic protein gene.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a major constituent of myelin synthesized by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. We have investigated the expression of mouse MBP RNAs outside the nervous system. Nuclease protection experiments indicate that RNAs containing exon 1 and not the six downstream exons of the MBP gene are transcribed in various hemopoietic tissues. We have isolated a hemopoietic MBP-related (HMBPR) cDNA clone from a mouse bone marrow cDNA library screened with an MBP cDNA probe. This clone contains exons 1a and 1b and a part of intron 1 of the MBP gene. An additional 5' region, encoded by at least three unidentified exons, lies upstream of exon 1a. The HMBPR clone corresponds to a 5-kb RNA expressed in bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and macrophagic cells. This transcript is expressed at a similar level in brain, although at a lower level than the classical 2-kb mRNA. These data indicate that a new transcript, overlapping the MBP transcription unit and controlled by a distinct promoter, is expressed in hemopoietic tissues. This RNA might encode a 21-kDa protein sharing a common domain with MBP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

One-way humoral immune cross-reactivity between bovine spinal cord protein and bovine myelin basic protein.

Whether bovine myelin basic protein (BP) and bovine spinal cord protein (SCP) cross-react at the humoral immune level was assessed with a sensitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. We found that a hyperimmune anti-SCP serum reacted strongly with SCP and cross-reacted nearly as well with BP. A hyperimmune anti-BP serum reacted only with BP. Antigenic competition analysis revealed that SCP and BP both inhibited binding of the hyperimmune anti-SCP serum to solid-phase adsorbed SCP and BP, while only BP inhibited binding of the hyperimmune anti-BP serum to solid-phase adsorbed BP. Finally, BP cross-reactivity antibodies were present in early bleedings from rabbits immunized with SCP that had been passed through an anti-BP immunosorbent column. These results clearly show there is a one-way humoral immune cross-reactivity between SCP and BP which goes in the direction of SCP to BP.

Animals↗