title: Genetic Manipulation of Neurofilament Protein Phosphorylation.
abstract: Neurofilament biology is important to understanding structural properties of axons, such as establishment of axonal diameter by radial growth. In order to study the function of neurofilaments, a series of genetically modified mice have been generated. Here, we describe a brief history of genetic modifications used to study neurofilaments, as well as an overview of the steps required to generate a gene-targeted mouse. In addition, we describe steps utilized to analyze neurofilament phosphorylation status using immunoblotting. Taken together, these provide comprehensive analysis of neurofilament function in vivo, which can be applied to many systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villalón
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA. Electronic address: garciaml@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins
keywords: Axon; Conduction velocity; KSP (lysine–serine–proline) repeats; Nerve development; Neurofilament; Neurofilament medium; Phosphorylation; Radial growth; Site-directed mutagenesis