Structural insight into the role of myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

In the article by Musse et al. in this issue of PNAS (1), the authors present unique and compelling physico-chemical data that demonstrate the structural instability of myelin in multiple sclerosis (MS). Such alteration in myelin stability, reported as secondary to changes in myelin basic protein (MBP) structure, may be causative in nature and/or contribute to the early course of demyelination in MS. A combination of physico-chemical and theoretical approaches enabled the authors to arrive at their conclusions and demonstrated that myelin structural information can shed light on mechanistic dysfunction in MS.