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Molecular Genetics of Myelin Basic Protein in Mouse and Humans

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Myelination and Demyelination

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Abstract

Myelin is a multi-lamellar membrane structure which ensheathes the axon and acts to increase nerve conduction velocity without a significant increase in axonal diameter. Myelin occurs mainly in vertebrates (1), although some invertebrates have been found to have a myelin like structure as well. The myelin sheath is synthesized by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (2) (CNS) and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (3) (PNS). The myelin sheath synthesized by these two cell types is morphologically similar and consists of a series of concentrically wrapped membrane bilayers which are extensions of the oligodendrocyte or Schwann cell plasma membrane (4). During myelination, these membrane extensions are repeatedly wrapped about the axon and are then compacted at both apposed cytoplasmic and extracellular membrane surfaces to form the intraperiod and major dense lines seen by electron microscopy in mature myelin (5) [see Figure 1]. Maturation of the myelinating cell and deposition of the myelin sheath is, thus, accompanied by a number of drastic morphological and physiological changes which also include the synthesis of a set of new proteins found only in myelin (6). Although Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes synthesize morphologically similar membrane structures, they have different embryological origins and distinct biological properties (2, 3). This chapter concerns mainly oligodendrocyte gene expression, thus the following discussion will focus on the oligodendrocyte and CNS myelination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    John Kamholz

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  1. John Kamholz
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Seung U. Kim

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© 1989 Plenum Press, New York

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Kamholz, J. (1989). Molecular Genetics of Myelin Basic Protein in Mouse and Humans. In: Kim, S.U. (eds) Myelination and Demyelination. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0777-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0777-8_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8077-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0777-8

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