title: Molecular specializations at nodes and paranodes in peripheral nerve.
abstract: In the peripheral nervous system, nodes of Ranvier are formed by interactions between myelinating Schwann cells and axons. Nodes have an intricate ultrastructure, and their molecular architecture is similarly complex. A growing list of molecules have been found that are selectively localized to different parts of the nodes. Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), L1/Ng-CAM, and tenascin/cytotactin are enriched in the nodal basal lamina; hyaluronic acid, versican/hyaluronectin, N-CAM, L1/Ng-CAM, tenascin/cytotactin, and the ganglioside GM1 are enriched in the nodal gap; myelin-associated glycorprotein, oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein, connexin32, E-cadherin, actin, the gangliosides GQ1b and GD1b, the potassium channel KV1.5, and alkaline phosphatase are enriched in the paranodal region of the Schwann cell; voltage-dependent sodium channels and the cytoskeletal proteins spectrin and ankyrin are enriched in the nodal axolemma. Many of these molecules are probably essential for the proper functioning and stability of nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Scherer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000737:chemistry; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000032:analysis; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000737:chemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011901:Ranvier's Nodes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D007473:Ion Channels; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins