Lectures and seminars SEMINAR: "Nonvesicular Lipid Transport for CNS Myelination"

Summary 

In the central nervous system, oligodendrocytes extend cellular processes to wrap around axons for myelination, requiring a massive expansion of the plasma membrane. An outstanding question is how oligodendrocytes deliver lipids efficiently to the plasma membrane to support myelination. By using volume electron microscopy (ATUM-SEM) and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate for the first time that oligodendrocyte endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is enriched in developing myelin in mice and contacts the plasma membrane. We hypothesized that lipids can be transferred directly from the ER to the plasma membrane at these contact sites. We focused on one lipid transfer protein abundant in myelin, glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP). Mice lacking GLTP in oligodendrocytes exhibit hypomyelination and a decrease in myelin glycolipid, indicating that GLTP contributes to lipid transport during myelination. Furthermore, these mutant mice show ER pathology in developing myelin, possibly as a result of lipid accumulation in the ER. In summary, our study suggests that nonvesicular lipid transport plays an important role in myelin development.

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Seminar is hosted by Veijo Salo (Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics). Contact him (veijo.salo@ki.se) if you would like to meet with the speaker