Chapter 13 Regulation of specific neuronal and nonneuronal proteins during development and following injury in the rat central nervous system

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter presents studies on growth-associated protein, GAP-43, to further characterize this protein using both anatomical and biochemical methods. It discusses a specific antibody to the rat GAP-43 and this antibody is used as a probe to examine the developmentally regulated pattern of the expression of GAP-43 in the rat hippocampus. The most prominent neuronal protein whose synthesis and transport is selectively enhanced during nerve growth is a protein designated as GAP-43 for its apparent molecular weight by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was initially reported that the synthesis of this protein was enhanced 15- to 20-fold during the regeneration of the optic nerve of the toad as compared to the levels of this protein found in normal adult nerves. The increased transport of a newly synthesized protein of the same approximate molecular weight and isoelectric point was subsequently identified during the regeneration of the hypoglossal nerve in the rabbit and corticospinal tract in neonatal hamsters and during the development of the optic nerve in rabbits. The synthesis of a similar protein is also increased during the regeneration of the optic nerve in goldfish and during the development of the optic nerve in rats. Taken together, these results suggest that GAP-43 may play a special role in neuronal growth.