title: Oligodendrocytes express an alpha/beta-interferon-susceptible Mx gene: molecular characterization of the encoded protein.
abstract: Interferons (INFs) are cytokines that exert a plethora of biological activities by interacting with receptors and inducing the synthesis of effector proteins. One such effector is an antiviral protein called Mx, widely distributed among vertebrates. Mx proteins belong to the superfamily of large GTPases, which includes dynamins, products of the Drosophila shibire gene, the yeast Vps1p, and others. Oligodendrocytes (OLGs) synthesize, assemble, and maintain myelin in the central nervous system. In an effort to identify genes implicated in establishing a myelinogenic phenotype, we isolated a 2,494 bp cDNA that encodes a protein of 654 amino acids, which are 95% identical to ovine Mx (from endometrium of pregnant sheep) and 83% similar to human MxA. Cultured OLGs express the mRNA and protein. We present structural features of this protein and speculate on the origin of its induction and the functional significance of its presence in OLGs. The finding that OLGs express an IFN-susceptible protein raises interesting possibilities in light of the evidence that beta-IFN is therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and the Brain Research Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. szuchet@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szuchet
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Plachetzki
authors.forename: Reda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karialukas
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007372:Interferons; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins