Identification of Agrin in Electric Organ Extracts and Localization of Agrin-Like Molecules in Muscle and Central Nervous System

Abstract

The portion of the muscle fibre's basal lamina that occupies the synaptic cleft at the neuromuscular junction contains molecules that cause the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors and acetylcholinesterase on regenerating muscle fibres. Agrin, which is extracted from basal lamina-containing fractions of the Torpedo electric organ and causes the formation of acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase aggregates on cultured myotubes, may be similar, if not identical, to the acetylcholine receptor- and acetylcholinesterase-aggregating molecules at the neuro-muscular junction. Here we summarize experiments which led to the identification of agrin and established that the basal lamina at the neuromuscular junction contains molecules antigenically similar to agrin. We also discuss results which raise the possibility that agrin-like molecules at the neuromuscular junction are produced by motor neurones.

Fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerve function and structure

“…The protein agrin, generated from motor neurons, was discovered in the extracellular matrix of the stone-ray electric ray's organ for generating electricity. 93 It plays a significant function in axon growth and projection and can be delivered to nerve terminals. Numerous early investigations have demonstrated that agrin was expressed in both SCs and neurons, indicating that agrin may be a promising target for peripheral neuroimaging.…”