Human myelin basic proteins

Abstract

Myelin basic proteins were isolated from six different anatomic sites of the human nervous system and were compared with regard to the yield, encephalitogenic activity, and electrophoretic pattern in polyacrylamide gel. The yield of basic proteins decreased progressively from the central to the peripheral nervous system. Basic protein extracted from human oculomotor nerve induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in 44 percent of guinea pigs injected with the extract. Patterns obtained after electrophoresis in 15 percent and 5 percent acrylamide gels at pH 4.3 and 10.6 for proteins from different anatomic sites were compared, and regional variation in chemical composition was found. This may account for preferential involvement of specific anatomic sites in certain neurologic diseases.