The cytoskeletal organization of the developing rat optic nerve will be studied by a variety of biochemical, immunological and morphological studies. We will study the differential appearance of the neurofilament proteins in the optic nerve, previously observed in our laboratory by biochemical means, with monospecific antibodies against each of the neurofilament polypeptides at the light and electron microscope level. We will also study the expression of vimentin and glial filament protein in the optic nerve throughout development in order to study the relationship between the two types of filaments. We will characterize internexin, an intermediate filament associated protein isolated in our laboratory, for its ability to bind intermediate filament and microtubule proteins, and study its possible function as an organization center for the cytoskeleton in development, and we will do the immunolocalization studies of monospecific antibodies made against this protein. We will also study the axonal transport of a number of these cytoskeletal proteins in development in order to give us a further understanding of the organization of the cytoskeleton during maturation and axon outgrowth. These studies are designed to give us insights into the construction of the cytoskeleton of both the neurons and glia during development. An understanding of these events can give us insights into the failure of adult neurons to regenerate after injury or disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY003849-09
Application #
3258325
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1987-09-01
Project End
1990-02-28
Budget Start
1989-03-01
Budget End
1990-02-28
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10027
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Kaplan, M P; Chin, S S; Fliegner, K H et al. (1990) Alpha-internexin, a novel neuronal intermediate filament protein, precedes the low molecular weight neurofilament protein (NF-L) in the developing rat brain. J Neurosci 10:2735-48
Chin, S S; Liem, R K (1989) Expression of rat neurofilament proteins NF-L and NF-M in transfected non-neuronal cells. Eur J Cell Biol 50:475-90
Bovolenta, P; Liem, R K; Mason, C A (1987) Glial filament protein expression in astroglia in the mouse visual pathway. Brain Res 430:113-26
Napolitano, E W; Chin, S S; Colman, D R et al. (1987) Complete amino acid sequence and in vitro expression of rat NF-M, the middle molecular weight neurofilament protein. J Neurosci 7:2590-9
Napolitano, E W; Pachter, J S; Liem, R K (1987) Intracellular distribution of mammalian stress proteins. Effects of cytoskeletal-specific agents. J Biol Chem 262:1493-504
Liem, R K; Chin, S S; Moraru, E et al. (1985) Monoclonal antibodies to epitopes on different regions of the 200 000 dalton neurofilament protein. Probes for the geometry of the filament. Exp Cell Res 156:419-28
Liem, R K; Pachter, J S; Napolitano, E W et al. (1985) Associated proteins as possible cross-linkers in the neuronal cytoskeleton. Ann N Y Acad Sci 455:492-508
Pachter, J S; Liem, R K (1985) alpha-Internexin, a 66-kD intermediate filament-binding protein from mammalian central nervous tissues. J Cell Biol 101:1316-22
Napolitano, E W; Pachter, J S; Chin, S S et al. (1985) beta-Internexin, a ubiquitous intermediate filament-associated protein. J Cell Biol 101:1323-31