Molecular and biosynthetic heterogeneity of fucosyl glycoproteins associated with rat brain synaptic functions. 1979

J W Gurd

The composition and biosynthesis of fucosyl glycoproteins present in rat brain synaptic membranes and synaptic junctions were investigated. Reaction with 125I-labelled fucose-binding protein (Lotus tetragonolobus) following sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis identified 6--8 fucosyl glycoproteins in synaptic membranes but only three major high molecular classes (Mr = 180 000, 130 000 and 110 000) in synaptic junctions. Affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose resolved each of the synaptic junctional fucosyl glycoproteins into concanavalin A-positive and negative components indicating the presence of at least six high molecular weight fucosyl glycoproteins in synaptic junctions. Following the administration of [3H]fucose synaptic membranes, synaptic junctions and post-synaptic densities incorporated isotope, the order of relative specific activities being synaptic membranes greater than synaptic junctions greater than post-synaptic densities. Fractionation of [3H]fucose-labelled synaptic junctions on concanavalin A-Sepharose revealed a time-dependent increase in the percentage of isotope associated with the concanavalin A-positive glycoproteins. The results demonstrate both molecular and biosynthetic heterogeneity of fucosyl glycoproteins associated with synaptic junctions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008970 Molecular Weight The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule. Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D002540 Cerebral Cortex The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions. Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D003208 Concanavalin A A MANNOSE/GLUCOSE binding lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a potent mitogen used to stimulate cell proliferation in lymphocytes, primarily T-lymphocyte, cultures.
D005643 Fucose A six-member ring deoxysugar with the chemical formula C6H12O5. It lacks a hydroxyl group on the carbon at position 6 of the molecule. Deoxygalactose,alpha-Fucose,alpha Fucose
D006023 Glycoproteins Conjugated protein-carbohydrate compounds including MUCINS; mucoid, and AMYLOID glycoproteins. C-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycosylated Protein,Glycosylated Proteins,N-Glycosylated Proteins,O-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycoprotein,Neoglycoproteins,Protein, Glycosylated,Proteins, C-Glycosylated,Proteins, Glycosylated,Proteins, N-Glycosylated,Proteins, O-Glycosylated
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013347 Subcellular Fractions Components of a cell produced by various separation techniques which, though they disrupt the delicate anatomy of a cell, preserve the structure and physiology of its functioning constituents for biochemical and ultrastructural analysis. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p163) Fraction, Subcellular,Fractions, Subcellular,Subcellular Fraction
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse
D013570 Synaptic Membranes Cell membranes associated with synapses. Both presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are included along with their integral or tightly associated specializations for the release or reception of transmitters. Membrane, Synaptic,Membranes, Synaptic,Synaptic Membrane
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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