Perikaryal proteins that react with an antibody against the 220 K component of axonal neurofilaments

Abstract
Perikarya of bovine spinal ganglion cells were dissected out from freeze-dried sections and their protein composition was examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. New components which reacted with an antibody against the axonal 220 K neurofilament protein were found as two skewed bands on the gel. They showed high pI and low molecular weight compared with the axonal counterpart. In the previous work (14), we found the following neurofilament proteins in perikarya: a 150K protein and a group of proteins ranging from 150 K to 170 K, in addition to a trace amount of the 170 K component. Thus two of the three neurofilament proteins, high and intermediate molecular weight components, are different between axons and perikarya. Post-translational modifications of neurofilament proteins may explain the differences.