Structure of modified nerve myelin

Structural information on the nerve myelin sheath was obtained by low angle Xray diffraction studies of modified nerve myelin. In one series of experiments, frog and rabbit sciatic nerves were air dried and then rehydrated in Ringer's solution. Up to 6 orders of diffraction of a repeat period of about 100 Å were recorded. Structural analysis was completed for the first 3 orders, or at a resolution of about 16 Å. In other experiments, intact nerve was treated with various protein digesting enzymes, such as pepsin, trypsin, and pronase. The low angle Xray diffraction patterns recorded from the chemically treated nerves contained relatively sharp Bragg reflections. Direct methods of analysis were used to determine the phase of each diffraction order. The electron density profiles for these enzyme treated nerves will be presented and compared to the profile of normal nerve myelin. These comparisons provide information on the location of the protein component in the membrane.

Duke Scholars

Author Thomas James McIntosh Cell Biology