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Myelin lipids: A phylogenetic study

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Abstract

The lipid composition of CNS and PNS myelin was studied in rat,Xenopus, trout andTorpedo. The main difference lay in the proportion of cerebrosides, which decreased in the sequence rat > Xenopus > Torpedo > trout. In additionTorpedo CNS and PNS myelins were extremely rich in sulfatides. In some respects,Torpedo appeared closer to tetrapods than trout. Otherwise the proportion of the different lipid classes did not reveal any clear evolutionary trends.

The presence of hydroxylated galactolipids in CNS myelin was investigated in several additional species. Considerable amounts were found inTorpedo, Polypterus, Protopterus, lizard, and chicken, with the highest values in rat and anurans. Only very small amounts of hydroxylated cerebrosides were detected in trout and in axolotl, while newt had none. This parameter appears therefore of doubtful usefulness for phylogenetic studies. In contrast to myelin proteins, myelin lipids are of limited value for establishing phylogenetic relationship among vertebrates.

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Abbreviations

CH:

cholesterol

CNS:

central nervous system

FA:

fatty acids

GC:

cerebrosides

HPTLC:

high-performance thin-layer chromatography

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

PE:

phosphatidylethanolamine and ethanolamine plasmalogens

PI:

phosphatidylinositol

PLP:

proteolipid protein

PNS:

peripheral nervous system

PS:

phosphatidylserine

SM:

sphingomyelin

SU:

sulfatides

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Neurochimie Service de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CH-1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Philippe Bürgisser M.D & Jean-Marie Matthieu

  2. Zoophysiologie und Zellphysiologie, Universität Osnabrück, D-4500, Osnabrück, Germany

    Gunnar Jeserich

  3. Forschungsstelle Neurochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Thomas V. Waehneldt

Authors
  1. Philippe Bürgisser M.D
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  2. Jean-Marie Matthieu
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  3. Gunnar Jeserich
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  4. Thomas V. Waehneldt
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Bürgisser, P., Matthieu, JM., Jeserich, G. et al. Myelin lipids: A phylogenetic study. Neurochem Res 11, 1261–1272 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00966121

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