ULTRAVIOLET ABSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF MYELIN FROM THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM |
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| Authors: | W L G Gent N A Gregson Carol A Lovelidge A F Winder |
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| Institution: | Departments of Biochemistry, Anatomy, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Guy's Hospital Medical School, London, Great Britain |
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| Abstract: | —New data are presented and published data reviewed to show that the protein content of rat brain myelin must be close to 21 per cent. Ultraviolet absorption measurements in the 220 nm region, however, indicate an apparent protein content of 44·3 per cent which, after solubilization with lysophosphatidylcholine falls to 35·8 per cent. It is shown that this latter proportion can be accounted for in terms of u.v. absorption by myelin protein and lipids, contributions being made by sphingolipids, phospholipids and cholesterol. It is concluded that in the environment of the intact myelin structure, u.v. absorption due to some of the chromophores is enhanced and that this effect is relaxed by lysophosphatidylcholine solubilization. Supportive evidence is given from measurements in the 280 nm region. |
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