Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.384, No.1, 37-42, 2009
Microtubule-independent regulation of neurofilament interactions in vitro by neurofilament-bound ATPase activities
Neurofilarnents (NFs), the major neuronal intermediate filaments, form networks in vitro that mimic the axonal NF bundles. This report presents evidence for previously unknown regulation of the interactions between NFs by NF-associated ATPases. Two opposite effects on NF gelation in vitro occur at low and high ATP concentration. These findings support the hypothesis that NF bundles in situ are dynamic structures, and raise the possibility that ATP-hydrolyzing mwechanoenzymes regulate their organization. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.