Immunocytochemical localization of sodium channel distributions in the excitable membranes of Electrophorus electricus. 1982

M H Ellisman, and S R Levinson

The tetrodotoxin binding protein, a major component of the Na+ channel, has been purified from the electric organ of the South American eel Electrophorus electricus. Antibodies to this protein were raised in rabbits and their specificity was demonstrated by a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay and by immunoprecipitation procedures. These antibodies were used to examine the distribution of the binding protein in the eel electroplax membranes and along myelinated nerve axons. The distribution of the antigen was determined by using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique at both the light and electron microscopic levels. In the electrocytes of the electric organ, only the innervated face showed staining in experimental material. The stained regions of electroplax plasmalemma included the caveolae of the innervated surface while caveolae of the non-innervated surface did not stain. Thus, the innervated surface including caveolae exclusively contains the Na+ channels. Along myelinated axons, staining was limited to the nodal zone of the node of Ranvier. The paranodal and internodal zones did not stain for the binding protein. Limited diffusion of primary IgG and subsequent reactants into the paranodal and internodal sites was eliminated as a possible source of focal staining at nodes because mechanically demyelinated preparations also exhibited focal nodal staining. Thus, this tetrodotoxin binding protein component of the Na+ channel is located solely within the nodal zone of the node of Ranvier.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007473 Ion Channels Gated, ion-selective glycoproteins that traverse membranes. The stimulus for ION CHANNEL GATING can be due to a variety of stimuli such as LIGANDS, a TRANSMEMBRANE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE, mechanical deformation or through INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS. Membrane Channels,Ion Channel,Ionic Channel,Ionic Channels,Membrane Channel,Channel, Ion,Channel, Ionic,Channel, Membrane,Channels, Ion,Channels, Ionic,Channels, Membrane
D011901 Ranvier's Nodes Regularly spaced gaps in the myelin sheaths of peripheral axons. Ranvier's nodes allow saltatory conduction, that is, jumping of impulses from node to node, which is faster and more energetically favorable than continuous conduction. Nodes of Ranvier,Nodes, Ranvier's,Ranvier Nodes,Ranviers Nodes
D004557 Electric Organ In about 250 species of electric fishes, modified muscle fibers forming disklike multinucleate plates arranged in stacks like batteries in series and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. A large torpedo ray may have half a million plates. Muscles in different parts of the body may be modified, i.e., the trunk and tail in the electric eel, the hyobranchial apparatus in the electric ray, and extrinsic eye muscles in the stargazers. Powerful electric organs emit pulses in brief bursts several times a second. They serve to stun prey and ward off predators. A large torpedo ray can produce of shock of more than 200 volts, capable of stunning a human. (Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p672) Electric Organs,Organ, Electric,Organs, Electric
D004593 Electrophorus A genus of fish, in the family GYMNOTIFORMES, capable of producing an electric shock that immobilizes fish and other prey. The species Electrophorus electricus is also known as the electric eel, though it is not a true eel. Eel, Electric,Electric Eel,Electrophorus electricus
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
D012964 Sodium A member of the alkali group of metals. It has the atomic symbol Na, atomic number 11, and atomic weight 23. Sodium Ion Level,Sodium-23,Ion Level, Sodium,Level, Sodium Ion,Sodium 23

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