Targeting liposomes through immunoglobulin superfamily domains: P0 protein as a model.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of P(0) protein, a cell adhesion molecule from peripheral nerve myelin, as a targeting ligand for liposomes. To evaluate binding characteristics and identify possible binding domains, cell-interaction studies were carried out with P(0) protein reconstituted into liposomes (P(0) liposomes) under various conditions. P(0) liposomes with intact P(0) protein were tested after endoglycosidase F treatment (cleaves the carbohydrate moiety) or trypsin digestion (removes the hydrophobic portion, residues 1-79, leaving the carbohydrate portion intact).

Secretion and processing of apolipoprotein A-I in the avian sciatic nerve during development.

Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), a major apolipoprotein synthesized by liver and intestine to facilitate transport of plasma lipids as lipoproteins, has been detected also in the avian sciatic nerve. The mRNA and protein levels of apo A-I have been shown to increase during the period of rapid myelination (LeBlanc et al.: J Cell Biol 109:1245-1256, 1989).

Biosynthesis and compartmentalization of Po, apolipoprotein A-I, and lipids in the myelinating chick sciatic nerve.

Myelin deposition in developing chick sciatic nerve is associated with rapid synthesis of lipids, the major myelin protein Po and apo A-I, a major constituent of plasma lipoproteins. In order to understand possible roles of apo A-I in myelin assembly the synthesis and appearance of Po, apo A-I and lipids was studied in an intracellular fraction, an intralamellar fraction thought to be related to, or derived from, myelin and compact myelin from rapidly myelinating sciatic nerve of 1 day chicks. Incorporation with methionine or pulse-chase experiments indicated that initial synthesis of Po occurs in the intracellular fraction followed by movement to the intralamellar fraction and myelin.

Post-translational modifications of apolipoprotein A-I and Po proteins in the avian peripheral nerve.

Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), a soluble lipid transporter, and Po, the major glycoprotein of myelin, are actively synthesized during myelination. To explore the status of post-translational modifications of these proteins in the avian PNS during rapid myelination, endoneurial slices from one day old chick sciatic nerves were incubated with various radioactive precursors that could serve as indicators of such processes. The proteins were isolated from the incubation medium (secreted fraction), the 1% Triton-X-100-soluble intracellular-endoneurial (intracellular) fraction, and myelin-related and purified compact myelin fractions by immunoprecipitation with monospecific anti-apo A-I and or anti-Po antisera.

Induction of myelin genes during peripheral nerve remyelination requires a continuous signal from the ingrowing axon.

The effect of a permanent transection on myelin gene expression in a regenerating sciatic nerve and in an adult sciatic nerve was compared to establish the degree of axonal control exerted upon Schwann cells in each population. First, the adult sciatic nerve was crushed, and the distal segment allowed to regenerate. At 12 days post-crush, the sciatic nerve was transected distal to the site of crush to disrupt the Schwann cell-axonal contacts that had reformed.