DIFFERENTIAL AXONAL-TRANSPORT OF INDIVIDUAL NA,K-ATPASE CATALYTIC (ALPHA) SUBUNIT ISOFORMS IN RAT SCIATIC-NERVE

Three isoforms of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic (alpha) subunit are presen t in neurons, demonstrated by in situ hybridization of neurons and Wes tern blot of nerve. We used Western blot with antibodies specific for alpha1, alpha2 and alpha3 peptides to measure the accumulation of indi vidual peptides at a ligature on the sciatic nerve. Alpha1 peptide acc umulated with kinetics suggesting rapid axonal transport of that isofo rm within nerve. Alpha2 and alpha3 peptides did not accumulate at the ligature. These studies provide insight into the dynamics of axonal Na ,K-ATPase isoforms.