Plasmolipin is a protein located in the membrane of nerve cells in the central nervous system. In brain, plasmolipin is developmentally regulated and concentrated in myelin. In vitro, the isolated protein forms voltage-dependent channels which allows potassium to cross the membrane. The concentration of potassium, inside and outside the cell, is critical for proper cell function. The goal of this research is to investigate the cellular and molecular events that control the expression and function of plasmolipin. Several cDNA clones encoding plasmolipin have been isolated and partially sequenced. Experiments will be performed to complete the sequence in order to determine the topology of plasmolipin in relation to membrane domains and the genetic structure. Dr. Fischer will study the molecular mechanisms that regulate plasmolipin and examine the role of this protein during oligodendrocyte differentiation and during the early events of myelination. Results from this study will provide information on the function of plasmolipin in encoding messages in the nervous system.
