Temporal and spatial modulation of a cytoskeletal antigen during peripheral axonal pathfinding.
A neuron-specific cytoskeletal antigen (5E10), whose expression pattern during initial motoneuron outgrowth into the chick limb suggests that it is playing a role in axon guidance, is described. This antigen, which was shown to be a phosphorylated epitope, probably of the intermediate weight neurofilament protein (NF-M), exhibits a highly stereotyped and spatially heterogeneous pattern of expression. The point of onset of expression, which was abrupt and occurred in the distal axon and base of the growth cone, differed between groups of neurons that projected to different targets. Specifically, expression occurred from positions where previous perturbation experiments suggested that the axons in question would begin responding to specific guidance cues, and it remained high along the axon from this point to the target. Expression of this antigen could also be induced in cultured motoneurons by activating several second messenger systems.
Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269.
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D001369:Axons / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015151:Immunoblotting; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins