Abstract
A long-range repulsive force near isolated neurofilaments was detected by exclusion of large molecules and by direct force measurements with atomic force microscopy. Adsorption of isolated native neurofilaments to a solid substrate in a high-salt solution (170 mM NaCl), in the presence of coisolating contaminants, shows that the contaminants are excluded from a zone that extends 50-100 nm from the core of the filament. Force-distance measurements by AFM show the presence of a weak repulsive force that extends >50 nm from the core of the filament; this repulsive force is absent in homopolymers of neurofilament L or trypsinized native filaments that lack the long sidearms present in native filaments. These results suggest that neurofilament sidearms form an entropic brush, thereby providing a mechanism for maintaining interfilament spacing.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 15035-15040 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Biochemistry |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 49 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 9 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry