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Central nervous system myelin proteins of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae: phylogenetic implications

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Myelin was isolated from the brain of a coelacanth. Its protein components were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS-PAGE). A protein component of 25000 Dalton was predominant; it was not glycosylated but reacted moderately with anti-mammalian CNS myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) antibodies and weakly with anti-lungfish CNS myelin glycosylated proteolipid protein (gPLP) antibodies. A component equivalent to mammalian DM-20 was not detectable. Presumably due to autolysis myelin basic protein (MBP) was not discernible by protein staining but showed up as a single band of 17000 Dalton with anti-mammalian MBP antibodies. Wolfgram protein (WP) was not present upon immunoblotting and the values for the myelin-specific 2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) were extremely low. These results question a chondrichthyan association of the coelacanth but are strongly in favor of an Actinistia-Tetrapoda sister group relationship, with Dipnoi being most closely related to that combined group.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Thomas V. Waehneldt & Joachim Malotka

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

    Gunnar Jeserich

  3. Laboratoire de Neurochimie, Service de Pédiatrie, CHUV, CH-1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jean-Marie Matthieu

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  1. Thomas V. Waehneldt
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Waehneldt, T.V., Malotka, J., Jeserich, G. et al. Central nervous system myelin proteins of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae: phylogenetic implications. Environ Biol Fish 32, 131–143 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007449

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