Physicochemical characterization of the 68,000-dalton protein of bovine neurofilaments

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Abstract
The 68,000-dalton protein from bovine neurofilaments was purified by a combination of chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and on hydroxylapatite in buffers containing 8 M urea. Although the separation of this protein from the other proteins of the neurofilament appeared to be hampered by a mixed association of the several components, a nearly homogeneous product was obtained for study. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments in buffers containing 8 M urea showed the molecule to be a monomer with a MW of 70,600 .+-. 2000. Circular dichroic spectra taken under the same conditions gave no evidence of residual .alpha.-helix. Molecular sieve chromatography in 8 M urea on controlled-pore glass showed that the molecule eluted at an unexpectedly small volume. The small elution volume did not depend significantly on protein concentration and is unlikely to be the result of intermolecular association. Rather, the monomer probably has a conformation more rigid or extended than a classical random coil. When dialyzed into 0.01 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane[Tris]/1 mM ethylene glycol bis(.beta.-aminoethylether)-N,N,N'',N''-tetraacetic acid[EGTA]/0.1 mM dithioerythreitol, pH 8.5, the protein does not assemble into filaments. Sedimentation velocity reveals that under these conditions it consists mainly of a 4.8S molecular species, containing few large particles; sedimentation equilibrium shows that it is composed of oligomers, the smallest present in significant concentration having a MW approximately that of a trimer. Circular dichroism measurements lead to the interpretation that the molecule has refolded in this buffer into a structure that has approximately 55% .alpha.-helix. Assembly into filamentous particles resembling neurofilaments occurs when the protein is dialyzed against 0.1 M 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid/0.1% .beta.-mercaptoethanol/ 1 mM EGTA/0.17 M NaCl, pH 6.5. The oligomeric species present in 0.01 M Tris may frequently be present in solubilized preparations of intermediate filaments and may represent an intermediate in the assembly process.