Axonally transported proteins associated with axon growth in rabbit central and peripheral nervous systems.

Skene, JH

Willard, M

2021-01-02T07:06:55Z

2021-01-02T07:06:55Z

1981-04

2021-01-02T07:06:53Z

In an effort to determine whether the "growth state" and the "mature state" of a neuron are differentiated by different programs of gene expression, we have compared the rapidly transported (group I) proteins in growing and nongrowing axons in rabbits. We observed two polypeptides (GAP-23 and GAP-43) which were of particular interest because of their apparent association with axon growth. GAP-43 was rapidly transported in the central nervous system (CNS) (retinal ganglion cell) axons of neonatal animals, but its relative amount declined precipitously with subsequent development. It could not be reinduced by axotomy of the adult optic nerves, which do not regenerate; however, it was induced after axotomy of an adult peripheral nervous system nerve (the hypoglossal nerve, which does regenerate) which transported only very low levels of GAP-43 before axotomy. The second polypeptide, GAP-23 followed the same pattern of growth-associated transport, except that it was transported at significant levels in uninjured adult hypoglossal nerves and not further induced by axotomy. These observations are consistent with the "GAP hypothesis" that the neuronal growth state can be defined as an altered program of gene expression exemplified in part by the expression of GAP genes whose products are involved in critical growth-specific functions. When interpreted in terms of GAP hypothesis, they lead to the following conclusions: (a) the growth state can be subdivided into a "synaptogenic state" characterized by the transport of GAP-23 but not GAP-43, and an "axon elongation state" requiring both GAPs; (b) with respect to the expression of GAP genes, regeneration involves a recapitulation of a neonatal state of the neuron; and (c) the failure of mammalian CNS neurons to express the GAP genes may underly the failure of CNS axons to regenerate after axon injury.

0021-9525

1540-8140

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/21969

eng

Rockefeller University Press

The Journal of cell biology

10.1083/jcb.89.1.96

Axons

Vagus Nerve

Hypoglossal Nerve

Optic Nerve

Retina

Animals

Rabbits

Nerve Tissue Proteins

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel

Axonal Transport

Molecular Weight

Axonally transported proteins associated with axon growth in rabbit central and peripheral nervous systems.

Journal article

Skene, JH|0000-0003-3205-0697

96

103

1

School of Medicine

Neurobiology

Duke Science & Society

Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

Duke

Basic Science Departments

Initiatives

Institutes and Provost's Academic Units

University Institutes and Centers

Published

89