Phosphorylation of myelin protein: recent advances

Abstract

Since it was first described 25 years ago, phosphorylation has come to be recognized as a widespread and dynamic post-translation modification of myelin proteins. In this review, the phosphorylation characteristics of myelin basic protein, protein zero (P0), myelin-associated glycoprotein and 2'3' cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase are summarized. Emphasis is placed on recent advances in our knowledge concerning the protein kinases involved and the sites of phosphorylation in the amino acid sequences, where known. The possible roles of myelin protein phosphorylation in modulating myelin structure, the process of myelin assembly and mediation of signal transduction events are discussed.