ALPHA-SUBUNIT AND BETA-SUBUNIT OF CAM-KINASE-II ARE LOCALIZED IN DIFFERENT NEURONS IN CHICK CILIARY GANGLION

THE ciliary ganglion of the chicken contains only two types of neurons . Using monoclonal antibodies against the alpha and the beta subunits of Ca2+/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase II (CaMPK-II) we found th at the alpha-subunit was localized to the choroid neurons while beta s ubunit was associated with the ciliary neurons. As both neurons receiv e their inputs from the oculomotor nerve, while their postganglionic a xons leave via different nerves, the ciliary ganglion of the chicken i s a neuronal system in which the functional differences between alpha and beta CaMPK-II homopolymers in the regulation of synaptic transmiss ion can be investigated. (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.