A GAP-43-like protein in cat visual cortex

Vis Neurosci. 1989;2(6):583-91. doi: 10.1017/s0952523800003515.

Abstract

We have purified a protein that changes in relative concentration during the development of the kitten visual cortex. It resembles GAP-43 (a neuronal protein that is expressed at elevated levels during periods of development and regenerative axon growth) in the following respects: (1) it is an acidic protein (pI = 4.7) whose electrophoretic mobility on SDS-PAGE is similar to, but lower than rat GAP-43, suggesting that the cat protein is larger; (2) its electrophoretic mobility varies with the acrylamide concentration in a manner that is characteristic of GAP-43; (3) its concentration in kitten forebrain is elevated during early postnatal development; (4) the sequence of ten consecutive amino acids from a chemically generated fragment matches the expected sequence from GAP-43; and (5) its amino-acid content also matches GAP-43. We conclude that our purified protein is cat GAP-43. Immunoblots with an antibody prepared against rat GAP-43 suggested that the concentration of GAP-43 in the visual cortex declines with age.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamide
  • Acrylamides / pharmacology
  • Aging / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Animals
  • Cats / growth & development
  • Cats / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • GAP-43 Protein
  • Growth Substances / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Visual Cortex / growth & development
  • Visual Cortex / metabolism*

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Amino Acids
  • GAP-43 Protein
  • Growth Substances
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Acrylamide