24 KDA GTP-BINDING PROTEINS IN OPTIC NERVE DYNAMICS

脊椎动物的视网膜是主要的视觉器官。 视觉信息 视网膜神经节神经元收集的信息通过 轴突构成有髓视神经。 这条神经，除了 对视觉至关重要，也是一个优秀的系统 研究膜细胞器和前体的轴突运输 质膜和突触小泡。 最近有研究表明 切断的视神经至少可以部分地沿着一条神经再生 周围神经移植并到达大脑的正确区域，从而 作为检查 CNS 要求的优秀系统 再生。 最后，有视神经病理学的证据 阿尔茨海默病。 多年来我们一直在研究快速轴突运输 兔子的机械，最近又在牛的视神经中。 我们有非常 最近表征了一组低分子量 GTP 结合蛋白 与视神经快速转运囊泡和潜在靶点相关 膜，即突触质膜和突触小泡。 鉴于 最近的证据定义了此类蛋白质在 分泌和囊泡运输，我们提出了一个系统的 结构、生物合成、定位和功能的研究 这些低分子量 GTP 结合蛋白。 我们将特别 将这些蛋白质定位在发育中的视网膜和视神经中。 我们会 采用生物化学、组织培养、免疫细胞化学等方法 这些研究中使用视频增强显微镜。 我们认为这些研究有望为该机制提供新的线索 成人快速轴突运输和发育中的视神经可能 对中枢神经系统的发育具有重大影响，并且有可能， 再生。

The vertebrate retina is the primary visual organ. Visual information collected by the retinal ganglion neurons is transmitted to the brain via axons which make up the myelinated optic nerve. This nerve, besides being of key importance in vision, also serves as an excellent system to investigate axonal transport of membranous organelles and precursors of plasma membranes and synaptic vesicles. It has recently been shown that the severed optic nerve can, at least in part, regenerate along a peripheral nerve graft and reach the correct region of the brain, thus serving as an excellent system to examine the requirements for CNS regeneration. Finally, there is evidence of optic nerve pathology in Alzheimer's disease. For several years we have been investigating the rapid axonal transport machinery in rabbit, and more recently in bovine optic nerve. We have very recently characterized a group of low molecular weight GTP binding proteins associated with optic nerve rapid transport vesicles and potential target membranes, i.e. synaptic plasma membrane and synaptic vesicles. In view of the recent evidences defining an important role of this protein class in secretion and vesicular transport, we have proposed a systematic investigation of the structure, biosynthesis, localization and function of these low molecular weight GTP binding proteins. We will particularly localize these proteins in the developing retina and optic nerve. We will employ methods of biochemistry, tissue culture, immunocytochemistry and video intensification microscopy in these investigations. We feel that these studies will, hopefully, shed new light on the mechanism of rapid axonal transport in adult and developing optic nerve which may have significant implications for CNS development and potentially, regeneration.