title: Multiple neurofilament subunits are present in lamprey CNS.
abstract: In mammals, there are three neurofilament (NF) subunits (NF-L, NF-M, and NF-H), but it was thought that only a single NF, NF180, exists in lamprey. However, NF180 lacked the ability to self-assemble, suggesting that like mammalian NFs, lamprey NFs are heteropolymers, and that additional NF subunits may exist. The present study provides evidence for the existence of a lamprey NF-L homolog (L-NFL). Genes encoding two new NF-M isoforms (NF132 and NF95) also have been isolated and characterized. With NF180, this makes three NF-M-like isoforms. In situ hybridization showed that all three newly cloned NFs are expressed in spinal cord neurons and in spinal-projecting neurons of the brainstem. Like NF180, there were no KSP multiphosphorylation repeat motifs in the tail regions of NF132 or NF95. NF95 was highly identical to homologous parts of NF180, sharing 2 common pieces of DNA with it. Northern blots suggested that NF95 may be expressed at very low levels in older larvae. The presence of L-NFL in lamprey CNS may support the hypothesis that as in mammals, NFs in lamprey are obligate heteropolymers, in which NF-L is a required subunit.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140-5104, USA. jinliqin@temple.edu
authors.forename: Li-Qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Guixin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Brenton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pennicooke
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laramore
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Selzer
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D048428:Petromyzon / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C044882:neurofilament protein L; C061195:neurofilament protein M