The Journal of Cell Biology, Vol 103, 33-39, Copyright © 1986 by The Rockefeller University Press

ARTICLES

270K microtubule-associated protein cross-reacting with anti-MAP2 IgG in the crayfish peripheral nerve axon

N Hirokawa

MAPs (microtubule-associated proteins) were isolated from crayfish walking leg nerves. A major MAP was identified as a high molecular weight protein (270K). This protein co-migrated with mammalian MAP2, stimulated the polymerization of rat brain tubulin into microtubules, and was heat resistant. Rotary shadowing revealed that the 270K MAP is a long thin flexible structure. It formed cross-bridges of fine strands, linking microtubules with each other in vitro. These strands resemble the cross-bridges between microtubules observed in the crayfish axon permeabilized with saponin and quick-frozen, deep-etched. Antibodies against mammalian MAP2 cross-reacted with this crayfish MAP and stained the axoplasm of the walking leg nerves. Thus MAPs, especially the 270K MAP, appear to be a major component of the cross- linking strands between microtubules observed in the crayfish axon.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Stone, J. D., Peterson, A. P., Eyer, J., Oblak, T. G., Sickles, D. W. (2001). Neurofilaments Are Nonessential to the Pathogenesis of Toxicant-Induced Axonal Degeneration. J. Neurosci. 21: 2278-2287 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Takemura, R., Okabe, S., Umeyama, T., Kanai, Y., Cowan, N. J., Hirokawa, N. (1992). Increased microtubule stability and alpha tubulin acetylation in cells transfected with microtubule-associated proteins MAP1B, MAP2 or tau. J. Cell Sci. 103: 953-964 [Abstract]  
• Miller, R., Lasek, R., Katz, M. (1987). Preferred microtubules for vesicle transport in lobster axons. Science 235: 220-222 [Abstract]  

Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents