SYNAPTIC SPECIFICITY IN THE SPINAL CORD

我们的目标是鉴定神经末梢的膜成分 参与调节脊髓中特定的突触连接。 神经末梢表面质膜的成分广泛存在 被认为在形成和维持 突触连接。据推测，特定的突触关系 由不同种群的脊髓传入神经末梢组成 反映在它们突触前的组成上的差异 膜。然而，独特的突触前膜蛋白参与了 调节特定突触联系的机制尚未确定。单克隆 针对突触膜抗原的抗体已经开发出来。 鉴定与脊神经相关的突触前膜蛋白 终点站。虽然其中许多抗体识别无处不在的成分 在突触终末中，其他的是脊髓亚群特有的 传入神经末梢。其中一个是针对突触的 囊泡膜抗原，它似乎具有某些特性 突触前膜蛋白参与介导特异性突触 突触联系。拟议研究的目的是：1)确定 这种抗原在多大程度上与神经末梢血浆有关 膜，并与突触连接区和突触 裂解；2)鉴定抗原并确定它是否是外周 或完整的膜蛋白；3)纯化抗原，研制 单特异性、多克隆抗血清；4)鉴定来源和 含该抗原的脊髓传入神经元的联系 确定这些细胞中可能的神经递质(S)；以及5)绘制 抗原在脑、外周神经系统和脑内的分布 非神经性分泌细胞并确定其表达的时程 脊髓发育过程中的抗原。的第二部分。 研究将针对识别其他神经末梢突触 可能参与介导突触的质膜蛋白 脊髓的特异性。免疫细胞化学方法检测光和 电子显微镜以及各种免疫化学程序将被 在这些调查中使用。这些研究的结果可能会 对于理解所涉及的机制具有重要意义 脊髓内突触连接的形成和维持。

Our goal is the identification of the nerve terminal membrane components involved in mediating specific synaptic linkages in the spinal cord. Constituents of the nerve terminal surface plasma membrane are widely believed to have a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of synaptic connections. Presumably, the specific synaptic relationships formed by different populations of spinal afferent nerve terminals are reflected by differences in the composition of their presynaptic membranes. However, the unique presynaptic membrane proteins involved in mediating specific synaptic linkages are yet to be identified. Monoclonal antibodies directed against synaptic membrane antigens have been developed which identify presynaptic membrane proteins associated with spinal nerve terminals. While many of these antibodies recognize ubiquitous components of synaptic endings, others are specific to subpopulations of spinal afferent nerve terminals. One in particular is directed against a synaptic vesicle membrane antigen which appears to have some of the properties expected of a presynaptic membrane protein involved in mediating specific synaptic linkages. The aims of the proposed studies are to: 1) determine to what extent this antigen is associated with the nerve terminal plasma membrane and specifically with the synaptic junctional region and synaptic cleft; 2) characterize the antigen and determine whether it is a peripheral or integral membrane protein; 3) purify the antigen and develope a monospecific, polyclonal antiserum to it; 4) identify the origins and connections of the spinal afferent neurons containing the antigen and determine the putative neurotransmitter(s) in these cells; and 5) map the distribution of the antigen in the brain, peripheral nervous system and in non-neuronal secretory cells and determine the time course of expression of the antigen in the spinal cord during development. A second part of the studies will be directed at identifying other nerve terminal synaptic plasma membrane proteins which may be involved in mediating synaptic specificity in the spinal cord. Immunocytochemical methods for light and electron microscopy, along with various immunochemical procedures will be used in these investigations. The results of these studies are likely to have significant implications for understanding the mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of synaptic connections in the spinal cord.