title: Immunocytochemical detection of the growth-associated protein B-50 by newly characterized monoclonal antibodies in human brain and muscle.
abstract: The growth-associated protein B-50 also termed GAP-43, F1, pp46, P-57 and neuromodulin is a nervous tissue-specific protein kinase C (PKC) substrate that is considered to play a major role in neurite formation, regeneration, and neuroplasticity. We describe the isolation of seven mouse monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) directed against B-50. The Mabs are produced against the bovine B-50, selected by ELISA for cross-reactivity with its human counterpart, and evaluated on Western blots in comparison with the well-characterized affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibodies to rat-B-50. The Western blots show that the Mabs NM1, NM4, and NM6 recognize specifically the B-50 of bovine, human, and rat brain extract and the purified PKC phosphorylated and unphosphorylated rat B-50 isoforms. The Mabs NM2 and NM3 cross-react with bovine B-50 immunoreactive c-kinase substrate (BICKS), a protein sharing a 17 amino acid sequence homology with B-50. Two Mabs are useful for the detection of B-50 immunoreactivity in formalin-fixed human and rat brain tissues. In human specimen of the hippocampus, a characteristic neuropil distribution of B-50 is detected by the Mabs. In human muscle, Mabs reveal B-50 in nerve bundles and in axons at motor end plates. Thus, these Mabs are useful in investigating the function and localization of the B-50 protein.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurobiology, Born Bunge Foundation, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercken
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lübke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandermeeren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gheuens
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Oestreicher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009132:Muscles / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins