Axonal transport of neuronal antigens characteristic of subpopulations of central nervous system (CNS) neurons.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are useful for the identification of nervous system antigens localized to neuronal subpopulations. We have examined the transport of the corresponding antigens of four such MAbs in guinea pig retinal ganglion-cell axons. Determination of the axonal transport rate of radiolabeled antigens allowed their assignment to one of the three major anterograde axonal transport rate components, each of which is through to convey a subcellular structural system in the axon. Antigens identified by three of the MAbs were found to be transported in slow component b of axonal transport, the component thought to convey the cytoplasmic matrix, and an antigen identified by the fourth MAb was found in slow component a, similarly thought to contain the linear cytoskeletal elements. Assignment of these antigens to the different rate components suggests that they may be associated with a particular structural system in neurons. Additionally, in cases where more than one nervous system cell type may express a particular antigen, the identity of the neuronal form of the antigen has been confirmed by its axonal transport. The roles that these antigens may play in the nervous system during normal axonal function and during neuropathogenesis can now be further examined.