Myelin-oligodendrocyte-specific protein

Small amounts of proteins characteristic of cells and membranes in general can also be found in myelin. There is evidence that tubulin is an authentic myelin-related component (Fig. 4-12B, D, CNS myelin). The 48kDa myelin/oligodendrocyte-specific protein (MOSP) is a component found only in CNS myelin and oligodendroglial membranes, which appears to associate with tubulin [41]. 

Myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein (MOSP) MOSP is a novel surface protein which is exclusively expressed in CNS myelin. It also plays an important role in membrane/cy toskeleton interactions during the formation and maintenance of CNS myelin. 

What is not clear is the specificity of the T cells. There are numerous studies of T cell reactivity to myelin antigens such as MBP, PLP and MOG, all of which are enceph-alitogenic in animals. However, the evidence taken as a whole has failed to demonstrate a substantially increased response to these antigens in most patients with MS compared to healthy controls. Nevertheless, at this time, MOG appears to be a leading candidate among myelin proteins to be an important target in the autoimmune aspects in many patients because of (1) its accessibility to immune attack due to its surface localization on oligodendrocytes ... 

Qkl (quaking). The quaking viable (qkv) is a spontaneous recessive mutation in the mouse that deletes an enhancer of the qkl gene and causes diminished qkl transcription, specifically in myelin-producing cells. The qkv mice provide a unique animal model linking RNA binding proteins to defects in oligodendrocyte cell fate... 

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