PRESENCE OF LONG AND SHORT DYSTROPHIN AND OR UTROPHIN PRODUCTS IN TORPEDO-MARMORATA PERIPHERAL-NERVES/

Peripheral nerves from rabbit and Torpedo marmorata were comparatively analyzed for the presence of short dystrophin products. Western blot analyses of Torpedo marmorata peripheral nerve extracts revealed the e xistence of three proteins belonging to the dystrophin family: a M(r) 400 kDa protein band detected with dystrophin/utrophin, dystrophin-spe cific and Torpedo utrophin-specific antibodies, a molecule identified as Dp116 and, for the first time at the protein level, a new protein p robably corresponding to Up116. All of these products were carefully i dentified according to the specificities of the monoclonal antibodies used. In immunofluorescence studies, clear staining of the thin rim su rrounding each Schwann cell-axon unit was observed in both Torpedo mar morata and rabbit peripheral nerves, showing colocalization of all of these molecules. Their potential functions were discussed in compariso n to similar products found in rabbit peripheral nerves.