Localization of the active zone proteins CAST, ELKS, and Piccolo at neuromuscular junctions.
CAST and ELKS are major components of the presynaptic active zones of neurons in the central nervous system, but it remains elusive whether CAST and ELKS are also components of synapses in the peripheral nervous system. Here, we have attempted to examine their expression and localization at the synapses of neuromuscular junctions. Immunoreactivity for ELKS is partly colocalized with that for the major neuromuscular junctions marker alpha-bungarotoxin, which binds to acetylcholine receptors. Moreover, another active zone protein, Piccolo, is also present at neuromuscular junctions, together with ELKS, whereas CAST is not found. These results suggest that at least ELKS and Piccolo, but not CAST, are components of neuromuscular junction synapses in the peripheral nervous system.
Tokoro
Takashi
T
Department of Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine/Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Sugitani, Toyama, Japan.
Higa
Susumu
S
Deguchi-Tawarada
Maki
M
Inoue
Eiji
E
Kitajima
Isao
I
Ohtsuka
Toshihisa
T
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins
D002038:Bungarotoxins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C486769:Erc1 protein, mouse; C505599:Erc2 protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C498631:Pclo protein, mouse; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins