Low molecular weight specific proteins in identified molluscan neurons. I. Synthesis and storage.

Low molecular weight specific proteins in phenotypically distinct, identified neurons of Aplysia californica, have been detected using a high resolution acid-urea polyacrylamide gel system, and the molecular weight of these proteins labeled by in vitro incubation in [3H]leucine were determined by two different methods. The relative mobilities of these proteins on the acid-urea gel differed significantly, even though they appeared to co-electrophorese on SDS gelss. These identified neurons, and the specific proteins that they synthesize and store represent excellent model systems for the study of specific protein regulation in neurons.