myelin protein

any of the proteins that form part of the myelin sheath. In the following descriptions, all examples are of human precursor sequences. Myelin-associated glycoprotein, a cell adhesion molecule for postnatal neural development, is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily; it is an integral membrane protein. Myelin basic protein, a protein of the cytoplasmic face of the myelin membrane, is a major protein component of normal myelin of the central nervous system (CNS). Very basic in nature (pI > 10.5), it is a single-chain protein with little structure. Administration of myelin basic protein in complete Freund's adjuvant in various experimental animals elicits experimental allergic encephalitis, owing to induction of delayed hypersensitivity to the protein, which is thought to have an important role in causing demyelinating diseases in humans. Three forms are produced by alternative splicing. P2 is probably a lipid transport protein; it is found in Schwann cells, associated with myelin basic protein. P0 is an immunoglobulin-like membrane protein of Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system; it is associated with a hereditary polyneuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1b). Myelin proteolipid protein (PLP or lipophilin) is the major myelin protein from the CNS, playing an important role in the formation, or maintenance, of the multilamellar structure of myelin; it is an integral membrane protein. Alternative splicing leads to a shorter variant. Mutations are associated with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, and other mutations result in dysmyelination, e.g. jimpy and rumpshaker (mouse), and MD (rat). See also Folch-Lees protein, Wolfgram proteolipid protein.

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