SNARE complex proteins, including the cognate pair VAMP-2 and syntaxin- 4, are expressed in cultured oligodendrocytes

Dana L. Madison, Winfried H. Krueger, David Cheng, Bruce D. Trapp, S. E. Pfeiffer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Myelin membrane synthesis in the CNS by oligodendrocytes (OLs) involves directed intracellular transport and targeting of copious amounts of specialized lipids and proteins over a relatively short time span. As in other plasma membrane-directed fusion, this process is expected to use specific trafficking and vesicle fusion proteins characteristic of the SNARE model. We have investigated the developmental expression of SNARE proteins in highly enriched primary cultures of OLs at discrete stages of differentiation. VAMP-2/synaptobrevin-2, syntaxin-2 and -4, nsec-1/munc-18- 1, Rab3a, synaptophysin, and synapsin were expressed. During differentiation, expression of the vesicular SNARE VAMP-2, the small GTP-binding protein Rab3a, and the target SNARE syntaxin-4 were up-regulated. VAMP-2 and Rab3 proteins detected immunocytochemically in cultured OLs were localized within the developing process network; in situ anti-VAMP-2 antibody stained the perikarya of rows of cells with the distribution and appearance of OLs. We discuss the potential involvement of SNARE complex proteins in a plasma membrane-directed transport mechanism targeting nascent myelin vesicles to the forming myelin sheath.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)988-998
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of neurochemistry
Volume72
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Myelin
  • Oligodendrocytes
  • Rab3
  • SNARE
  • Syntaxin
  • VAMP-2/synaptobrevin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SNARE complex proteins, including the cognate pair VAMP-2 and syntaxin- 4, are expressed in cultured oligodendrocytes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this