CNP overexpression induces aberrant oligodendrocyte membranes and inhibits MBP accumulation and myelin compaction

2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) is highly enriched in myelin-forming cells where it is concentrated at the cytoplasmic side of all surface membranes except those of compact myelin. Previous studies have provided evidence that CNP is functionally involved in migration or expansion of membranes during myelination. This hypothesis is supported, in part, by the production of aberrant myelin membranes in transgenic mice that have a 6-fold increase in CNP expression. In addition, many myelin lamellae in these CNP-overexpressing mice lacked major dense lines (MDLs). The purpose of the present study was to determine if CNP overexpression altered: (1) oligodendrocyte and myelin membrane production during early stages of myelination, and (2) the ultrastructural distribution of CNP and myelin basic protein (MBP) in myelin membranes. We identified aberrant membrane expanses that extended from premyelinating oligodendrocyte processes, the periaxonal membrane, and the contact point between oligodendrocyte processes and myelin internodes. Myelin membranes without MDLs were deficient in MBP and enriched in CNP. These data support a functional role for CNP during oligodendrocyte membrane expansion and indicate, for the first time, that CNP may help target MBP to compact myelin.     

Crystalline 3-phospho-d-glycerate kinase from horse muscle

Phosphoglycerate kinase has been isolated in crystalline form from horse muscle. A convenient isolation procedure is described that yields homogeneous enzyme of specific activity 700 units/mg (30 degrees C). The enzyme is monomeric, and has a molecular weight 47 000. Of the eight cysteine residues in the protein, two react rapidly with Nbs21 with the concomitant loss of the catalytic activity. Since the isolation of phosphoglycerate kinase from yeast (Bücher, 1955) there have been several reports of purification methods yielding enzyme approaching molecular homogeneity, from rabbit muscle (Beisenherz et al., 1953; Czok and Bücher, 1960; Rao and Oesper, 1961; Avramov and Repin, 1965; and Scopes, 1969) and from chicken muscle (Gosselin-Rey, 1965). Crystalline material has been isolated from human erythrocytes (Hashimoto and Yoshikawa, 1962), and from yeast and rabbit muscle (Krietsch and Bücher, 1970). Cystallographic work on phosphoglycerate kinase from horse muscle by Blake et al. (1972) and Blake and Evans (1974) has prompted mechanistic interest in the enzyme, and we report here a simplified isolation procedure and some properties of the crystalline material from this source.     

Total body water volumes for adult males and females estimated from simple anthropometric measurements

Individual total body water volumes for 458 adult males and 265 adult females obtained from dilution studies, together with their height, weight, and age have been selected from the literature. These values were used to derive total body water prediction equations for adults of any age. The equations that gave the best fit were for males: formula (see text) and for females: formula (see text). Numerous other linear regression equations to predict total body water from anthropometric measurements have been reported in the literature. Most apply only to restricted age groups. These, and the equations from the present study were tested on completely independent data. In all cases the equations from the present study gave the best overall results, though for women one equation designed for a specific age group, gave for that age group a marginally better fit.