Description
In vitro, myelin basic protein (MBP) is a substrate for phosphorylation by several different protein kinases including MAPK, PKA, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, PKC and phosphorylase kinase. Even highly specific protein kinases such as Raf1, MEK and MEKK can utilize MBP as an alternative substrate. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a single-chain, flexible polypeptide of about 18.5kD existing in its natural environment as an extrinsic and loosely bound component of the cytoplasmic portion of the myelin membrane sandwich. Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry with anti-myelin basic protein has shown that MBP is localized in the compact myelin sheath. MBP has not been demonstrated in rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes or any other cytoplasmic organelles. MBP serves as a marker for oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. MBP is also a marker for malignant schwannomas and appears to play a significant role in the etiology of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis