Myelin membrane biogenesis by oligodendrocytes. Developmental regulation of low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins.
Oligodendrocytes synthesize dramatic amounts of myelin membrane. We hypothesized that this requires unique aspects of vesicular trafficking. Specific stages of the oligodendrocyte lineage were assayed for low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins implicated in the regulation of vesicular transport pathway (two dimensional gel electrophoresis, [alpha-32P]GTP overlay). Consistent with the hypothesis, as oligodendrocytes differentiate from early progenitors to mature myelin-producing cells, > or = 12 small GTP-binding proteins become up-regulated. Myelin membrane also has a complex pattern of GTP-binding proteins. Several of these proteins may be specific to oligodendrocytes, suggesting that oligodendrocytes may utilize cell-type specific GTP-binding proteins for biogenesis and maintenance of the myelin membrane.
Department of Cell Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
L A
LA
Huber
D L
DL
Madison
K
K
Simons
S E
SE
Pfeiffer
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005089:Exocytosis; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D015151:Immunoblotting; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology
D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins