Characterization of a myelin-related fraction (SN 4) isolated from rat forebrain at two developmental stages

A myelin-related fraction (SN 4) was isolated from forebrain of 17- and 40-day-old rats. Fraction SN 4 was obtained as a supernatant in a slow speed differential centrifugation of a myelin fraction. In contrast to multilamellar myelin fraction, SN 4 consisted of small vesicular profiles of a mixture of single membranes and some triple-layered structures. All typical myelin components were found in the SN 4 fraction from adult rat brain but their relative proportion was different from that of myelin: Wolfgram protein, myelin glycoproteins and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase were increased, while basic proteins and proteolipid protein were decreased significantly. In contrast, the lipid composition appeared very similar to the one found in myelin. SN 4 from 17-day-old rat brains was essentially similar to that from adults, except that the major myelin glycoprotein was not enriched in comparison to myelin. Developmental changes found in myelin were also present in the SN 4 fraction. The specific radioactivity of the fucose-labeled major myelin glycoprotein was similar in SN 4 and in myelin. The particular composition of fraction SN 4 suggests that this material is not significantly contaminated by non-myelin-related membranes but rather supports the hypothesis that it could be enriched in a membrane representing a zone of transition during the formation of myelin and which is subjected to a remodelling of its protein components.