Low myelin basic protein levels and normal myelin in peripheral nerves of myelin deficient mutant mice ( MLD)

Abstract

In myelin deficient mutant mice peripheral nerves appeared normally myelinated and the myelin sheath showed the typical alternation of minor and major dense lines. The protein analysis of myelin and direct determinations of myelin basic protein revealed very low amounts of this component in sciatic nerves from mutants. The other peripheral nervous system myelin proteins and the myelin enzyme 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase were not affected. These results suggest that myelin basic proteins do not play an important role in the formation of the major dense line in peripheral nervous system myelin.