Neurofilaments (NF) are the major structures of many parts of the nervous system, but are rather poorly understood in functional terms. We plan to further elucidate the function and expression of these proteins by; 1. Producing recombinant fusion proteins containing defined NF sequences and also a panel of highly specific epitope-mapped antibodies to all known NF subunits for use in a host of studies including but not limited to those described in this proposal. 2. To use the novel antibodies to study CNS microanatomy, now concentrating on the detailed distribution and co-distributions of the triplet proteins, alpha-internexin, peripherin and vimentin and the definitive identification and ultrastructural characterization of neurons and fibre tracts containing particular NF protein combinations. These studies will provide novel cell-type specific markers and perhaps suggest relationships between particular NF patterns and particular neuron classes. 3. Search for and characterize NF-associated proteins in detail and try to understand their function, with particular emphasis of proteins that may be involved in NF cross-linking, phosphorylation, transport and interaction with other neuronal constituents. We can now perform these studies much more efficiently thanks to our newly developed computer program, called FINDER, which allows us to identify proteins rapidly and cheaply from their amino acid composition. These studies will throw light on several aspects of NF function. Since NF accumulations and modifications are seen in a variety of damage and disease states, understanding more about NF will undoubtedly have medical impact. Finally, this work is already generating a battery of novel antibodies, constructs and methods which have been and will continue to be made freely available for as yet unimagined studies in future.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01NS022695-07A2
Application #
3405467
Study Section
Neurological Sciences Subcommittee 1 (NLS)
Project Start
1985-07-01
Project End
1996-06-30
Budget Start
1993-07-01
Budget End
1994-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073130411
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Errante, L; Tang, D; Gardon, M et al. (1998) The intermediate filament protein peripherin is a marker for cerebellar climbing fibres. J Neurocytol 27:69-84
Lu, D; Yang, H; Shaw, G et al. (1998) Angiotensin II-induced nuclear targeting of the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor in brain neurons. Endocrinology 139:365-75
Wang, D S; Deng, T; Shaw, G (1997) Membrane binding and enzymatic activation of a Dbl homology domain require the neighboring pleckstrin homology domain. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 234:183-9
Shaw, G; Miller, R; Wang, D S et al. (1997) Characterization of additional casein kinase I sites in the C-terminal ""tail"" region of chicken and rat neurofilament-M. J Neurochem 69:1729-37
Shaw, G (1996) The pleckstrin homology domain: an intriguing multifunctional protein module. Bioessays 18:35-46
Hollander, B A; Bennett, G S; Shaw, G (1996) Localization of sites in the tail domain of the middle molecular mass neurofilament subunit phosphorylated by a neurofilament-associated kinase and by casein kinase I. J Neurochem 66:412-20
Wang, D S; Miller, R; Shaw, R et al. (1996) The pleckstrin homology domain of human beta I sigma II spectrin is targeted to the plasma membrane in vivo. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 225:420-6
Benson, D L; Mandell, J W; Shaw, G et al. (1996) Compartmentation of alpha-internexin and neurofilament triplet proteins in cultured hippocampal neurons. J Neurocytol 25:181-96
Wang, D S; Shaw, G (1995) The association of the C-terminal region of beta I sigma II spectrin to brain membranes is mediated by a PH domain, does not require membrane proteins, and coincides with a inositol-1,4,5 triphosphate binding site. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 217:608-15
Wang, D S; Shaw, R; Hattori, M et al. (1995) Binding of pleckstrin homology domains to WD40/beta-transducin repeat containing segments of the protein product of the Lis-1 gene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 209:622-9

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