Myelin Proteins From Different Regions of the Central Nervous System

Abstract —The protein composition of myelin prepared from specific anatomical regions of the bovine brain and spinal cord was studied by a modification of the method of Gonzalez‐Sastre (1970). Spinal cord myelin contained lesser amounts of chloroform‐methanol soluble protein and proteolipid protein and had a lower activity of the enzyme 2′,3′‐cyclic nucleotide 3′‐phosphohydrolase than did myelin from subcortical white matter. There was no difference, however, in the protein composition of myelin from the various levels of the spinal cord. The amino acid composition of both proteolipid and basic protein showed no significant regional differences. Myelin preparations from both brain and spinal cord contained DM‐20 protein.