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Mycobacterium leprae Binds to a Major Human Peripheral Nerve Glycoprotein Myelin P Zero (P0)

Neurochemical Research volume 28, pages 1393–1399 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

We have previously shown that a major phosphorylated 25-kDa glycoprotein of the human peripheral nerve binds to Mycobacterium leprae. In the present study, we confirm that the 25-kDa glycoprotein of the human peripheral nerve is myelin P zero (P0) by immunoprecipitation and Western blot experiments using monoclonal antibodies to myelin P0. Immunohistochemical studies on human nerve using these antibodies to myelin P0 exhibited a strong immunoreactivity to the myelin and Schwann cells. Myelin P0 is a peripheral nerve specific protein; therefore it could likely be one of the key target molecules for M. leprae binding/internalization or even contact-dependent demyelination. This finding of M. leprae binding to myelin P0 adds to the present understanding on neural predilection of M. leprae.

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Affiliations

  1. LEPRA India-Blue Peter Research Centre, Hyderabad, India

    Lavanya M. Suneetha, Meher Vani, Deena Vardhini & Sujai Suneetha

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

    Surya S. Singh

  3. National Hansen's Disease Centre, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

    David Scollard

  4. Department of Neurology, University of Graz, Austria

    Juan J. Archelos

  5. MNJ Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, India

    M. Srinivasulu

Authors
  1. Lavanya M. Suneetha
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  2. Surya S. Singh
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  3. Meher Vani
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  4. Deena Vardhini
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  5. David Scollard
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  6. Juan J. Archelos
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  7. M. Srinivasulu
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  8. Sujai Suneetha
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Suneetha, L.M., Singh, S.S., Vani, M. et al. Mycobacterium leprae Binds to a Major Human Peripheral Nerve Glycoprotein Myelin P Zero (P0). Neurochem Res 28, 1393–1399 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024904717612

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024904717612

  • Human peripheral nerve
  • protein phosphorylation
  • Mycobacterium leprae
  • Myelin P0