Neurofilaments consist of distinct populations that can be distinguished by C-terminal phosphorylation, bundling, and axonal transport rate in growing axonal neurites

We examined the steady-state distribution and axonal transport of neurofila ment (NF) subunits within growing axonal neurites of NB2a/d1 cells. Ultrast ructural analyses demonstrated a longitudinally oriented "bundle" of closel y apposed NFs that was surrounded by more widely spaced individual NFs. NF bundles were recovered during fractionation and could be isolated from indi vidual NFs by sedimentation through sucrose. Immunoreactivity toward the re strictive C-terminal phospho-dependent antibody RT97 was significantly more prominent on bundled than on individual NFs. Microinjected biotinylated NF subunits, GFP-tagged NF subunits expressed after transfection, and radiola beled endogenous subunits all associated with individual NFs before they as sociated with bundled NFs. Biotinylated and GFP-tagged NF subunits did not accumulate uniformly along bundled NFs; they initially appeared within the proximal portion of the NF bundle and only subsequently were observed along the entire length of bundled NFs. These findings demonstrate that axonal N Fs are not homogeneous but, rather, consist of distinct populations. One of these is characterized by less extensive C-terminal phosphorylation and a relative lack of NF-NF interactions. The other is characterized by more ext ensive C-terminal NF phosphorylation and increased NF-NF interactions and e ither undergoes markedly slower axonal transport or does not transport and undergoes turnover via subunit and/or filament exchange with individual NFs . Inhibition of phosphatase activities increased NF-NF interactions within living cells. These findings collectively suggest that C-terminal phosphory lation and NF-NF interactions are responsible for slowing NF axonal transpo rt.