Evidence That the Major Protein in Rat Sciatic Nerve Myelin Is a Glycoprotein

Evidence is presented that the major protein of rat sciatic nerve myelin is a glycoprotein. When myelin proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the major band which was stained with amido black–Coomassie blue was also stained with periodic acid‐Schiff reagents for carbohydrate. Radioactive labelling of myelin in vivo with [ 3 H]leucine and [ 14 C]fucose, followed by electrophoresis of the proteins, indicated that with both isotopes the major labelled peak corresponded to the major stained band. In addition, a second smaller peak of [ 14 C]fucose migrated ahead of the major peak. Delipidated myelin contained galactose, mannose, fucose and sialic acid.