Compact myelin dictates the differential targeting of two sodium channel isoforms in the same axon

Tatiana Boiko, Matthew N. Rasband, S. Rock Levinson, John H. Caldwell, Gail Mandel, James S. Trimmer, Gary Matthews

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

353 Scopus citations

Abstract

Voltage-dependent sodium channels are uniformly distributed along unmyelinated axons, but are highly concentrated at nodes of Ranvier in myelinated axons. Here, we show that this pattern is associated with differential localization of distinct sodium channel α subunits to the unmyelinated and myelinated zones of the same retinal ganglion cell axons. In adult axons, Nav1.2 is localized to the unmyelinated zone, whereas Nav1.6 is specifically targeted to nodes. During development, Nav1.2 is expressed first and becomes clustered at immature nodes of Ranvier, but as myelination proceeds, Nav1.6 replaces Nav1.2 at nodes. In Shiverer mice, which lack compact myelin, Nav1.2 is found throughout adult axons, whereas little Nav1.6 is detected. Together, these data show that sodium channel isoforms are differentially targeted to distinct domains of the same axon in a process associated with formation of compact myelin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-104
Number of pages14
JournalNeuron
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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