Identification of an intracellular postsynaptic antigen at the frog neuromuscular junction. 1982

S Burden

A layer of amorphous, electron-dense material is situated at the cytoplasmic surface of the postsynaptic membrane of vertebrate neuromuscular synapses. The function of this structure is not clear, but its location suggests that it may have an important role in the formation and/or maintenance of the synapse. This paper demonstrates that a monoclonal antibody raised against antigens from Torpedo electric organ binds to an intracellular, postsynaptic protein at the frog neuromuscular synapse. Indirect immunofluorescence on frozen sections of frog muscle was used to demonstrate that the antigen is concentrated at synaptic sites in normal muscle. In denervated muscle, the antigen remains concentrated at synaptic sites, but is also present at extrasynaptic regions of denervated myofibers. The antigen cannot be labeled in intact, whole muscle, but only in whole muscle that has been permeabilized with nonionic detergents. The antibody staining pattern in Triton X-100-permeabilized whole-mounts of the frog neuromuscular synapse is arranged in elongate, arborized areas which are characteristic of the frog neuromuscular synapse. The stained areas are striated and the striations occur with a periodicity that corresponds to the regular folding of the postsynaptic membrane. Immunoferritin labeling of fixed, saponin-permeabilized muscle demonstrates that the antigen is associated with amorphous material that is situated between the postsynaptic membrane and an underlying layer of intermediate filaments. The antigen, solubilized from membrane and an underlying layer of intermediate filaments. The antigen, solubilized from Torpedo electric organ by high ionic strength, was identified by antibody binding to nitrocellulose replicas of SDS gels of Torpedo tissue. In Torpedo tissue, the antibody binds to a single protein band at 51,000 daltons (51 kd). The 51-kd protein shares an antigenic determinant with intermediate filament proteins, since a monoclonal antibody to all intermediate filaments reacts with the same 51-kd protein. The monoclonal antibody also reacts with a 55-kd protein in frog skin which is localized to the perinuclear region of the epithelial cells.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007381 Intermediate Filament Proteins Filaments 7-11 nm in diameter found in the cytoplasm of all cells. Many specific proteins belong to this group, e.g., desmin, vimentin, prekeratin, decamin, skeletin, neurofilin, neurofilament protein, and glial fibrillary acid protein. Fibroblast Intermediate Filament Proteins,Filament Proteins, Intermediate,Proteins, Intermediate Filament
D008970 Molecular Weight The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule. Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009121 Muscle Denervation The resection or removal of the innervation of a muscle or muscle tissue. Denervation, Muscle,Denervations, Muscle,Muscle Denervations
D009124 Muscle Proteins The protein constituents of muscle, the major ones being ACTINS and MYOSINS. More than a dozen accessory proteins exist including TROPONIN; TROPOMYOSIN; and DYSTROPHIN. Muscle Protein,Protein, Muscle,Proteins, Muscle
D009469 Neuromuscular Junction The synapse between a neuron and a muscle. Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D011894 Rana pipiens A highly variable species of the family Ranidae in Canada, the United States and Central America. It is the most widely used Anuran in biomedical research. Frog, Leopard,Leopard Frog,Lithobates pipiens,Frogs, Leopard,Leopard Frogs
D002467 Cell Nucleus Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed) Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
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
D000911 Antibodies, Monoclonal Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells. Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
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