The long range goal of this program is the understanding of the role of proteolipid in the structure and function of myelin. The proteolipid is a hydrophobic membrane protein that is the major protein component of CNS myelin. The recent elucidation of its amino acid sequence has led to the development of a model for the orientation of the proteolipid within the membrane and this, in turn, permits us to address specific questions relevant to the chemical architecture of myelin. The key questions relate to the oxidation state of cysteine/cystine residues, the location of exposed domains and the site of covalently bound fatty acid. The overall approach is to label the protein with a suitable radioactive probe; the protein is then cleaved with proteolytic enzymes, labelled peptides are isolated, characterized and their location within the sequence and within the model determined.
The specific aims of this project are: 1) to determine the location of disulfide and sulfhydryl groups in the isolated proteolipid and in myelin membranes by labelling with radioactive sulfhydryl reagents: 2) to identify those segments of the protein that are accessible at the external surface, using impermeant chemical probes; 3) to determine if the orientation of the protein is the same in liposomes reconstituted with the apoprotein as it is in myelin; and 4) to determine the site of fatty acid esterification after in vivo acylation of the protein. Our approach is specifically relevant to the elucidation of factors that maintain the compact multilamellar structure characteristic of myelin. The approach also permits identification of sites normally exposed to immune surveillance and those which may become exposed upon myelin breakdown. The studies are part of an overall interest in lipid-protein interactions and are directed to understanding the control of myelin stability and the alterations in demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis and the leukodystrophies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS013649-10
Application #
3395287
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1978-09-01
Project End
1989-08-31
Budget Start
1985-09-01
Budget End
1986-08-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center Mtl Retardatn
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Waltham
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Bizzozero, O A; Lees, M B (1999) Fatty acid composition of myelin proteolipid protein during vertebrate evolution. Neurochem Res 24:269-74
Lees, M B (1998) A history of proteolipids: a personal memoir. Neurochem Res 23:261-71
Greer, J M; Dyer, C A; Pakaski, M et al. (1996) Orientation of myelin proteolipid protein in the oligodendrocyte cell membrane. Neurochem Res 21:431-40
Sobel, R A; Greer, J M; Isaac, J et al. (1994) Immunolocalization of proteolipid protein peptide 103-116 in myelin. J Neurosci Res 37:36-43
Kerlero de Rosbo, N; Milo, R; Lees, M B et al. (1993) Reactivity to myelin antigens in multiple sclerosis. Peripheral blood lymphocytes respond predominantly to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. J Clin Invest 92:2602-8
Konola, J T; Yamamura, T; Tyler, B et al. (1992) Orientation of the myelin proteolipid protein C-terminus in oligodendroglial membranes. Glia 5:112-21
Fischer, I; Cochary, E F; Konola, J T et al. (1991) Expression of plasmolipin in oligodendrocytes. J Neurosci Res 28:81-9
Bizzozero, O A; Zuniga, G; Lees, M B (1991) Fatty acid composition of human myelin proteolipid protein in peroxisomal disorders. J Neurochem 56:872-8
Konola, L T; Tyler, B M; Yamamura, T et al. (1991) Distribution of proteolipid protein and myelin basic protein in cultured mouse oligodendrocytes: primary vs. secondary cultures. J Neurosci Res 28:49-64
Yamamura, T; Konola, J T; Wekerle, H et al. (1991) Monoclonal antibodies against myelin proteolipid protein: identification and characterization of two major determinants. J Neurochem 57:1671-80

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