Neurofilament protein synthesis in DRG neurons decreases more after peripheral axotomy than after central axotomy

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Neurosci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6945632

Greenberg, S G; Lasek, R J

Cytoskeletal protein synthesis was studied in DRG neurons after transecting either their peripheral or their central branch axons. Specifically, the axons were transected 5-10 mm from the lumbar-5 ganglion on one side of the animal; the DRGs from the transected side and contralateral control side were labeled with radiolabeled amino acids in vitro; radiolabeled proteins were separated by 2-dimensional (2D) PAGE; and the amounts of radiolabel in certain proteins of the experimental and control ganglia were quantified and compared. We focused on the neurofilament proteins because they are neuron-specific. If either the peripheral or central axons were cut, the amounts of radiolabeled neurofilament protein synthesized by the DRG neurons decreased between 1 and 10 d after transection. Neurofilament protein labeling decreased more after transection of the peripheral axons than after transection of the central axons. In contrast to axonal transections, sham operations or heat shock did not decrease the radiolabeling of the neurofilament proteins, and these procedures also affected the labeling of actin, tubulin, and the heat-shock proteins differently from transection. These results and others indicate that axonal transection leads to specific changes in the synthesis of cytoskeletal proteins of DRG neurons, and that these changes differ from those produced by stress to the animal or ganglia. Studies of the changes in neurofilament protein synthesis from 1 to 40 d after axonal transection indicate that the amounts of radiolabeled neurofilament protein synthesis were decreased during axonal elongation, but that they returned toward control levels when the axons reached cells that stopped elongation.

• Research Organization: Case Western Reserve Univ. Medical School, Cleveland, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6945632
• Journal Information: J. Neurosci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Neurosci.; (United States) Vol. 8:5; ISSN JNRSD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHEMISTRY
ELECTROPHORESIS
ENERGY
HEAT
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
NERVE CELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
SOMATIC CELLS
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES