Molecular Characterization of Myelin Protein Zero in Xenopus laevis Peripheral Nerve: Equilibrium between Non-covalently Associated Dimer and Monomer.

ABSTRACT: Myelin protein zero (P0), a glycosylated single-pass transmembrane protein, is essential in the formation and maintenance of peripheral nervous system (PNS) compact myelin. P0 in Xenopus (xP0) exists primarily as a dimeric form that remains stable after various physical and chemical treatments. In exploring the nature of the interactions underlying the dimer stability, we found that xP0 dimer dissociated into monomer during continuous elution gel electrophoresis and conventional SDS-PAGE, indicating that the dimer is stabilized by non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, as some of the gel-purified monomer re-associated into dimer on SDS-PAGE gels, there is likely a dynamic equilibrium between xP0 dimer and monomer in vivo. Because the carbohydrate and fatty acyl moieties may be crucial for

SUBMITTER: Xie B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2678737 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature