X-ray diffraction study of myelin structure in immature and mutant mice.

X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained from freshly dissected central and peripheral nerves of quaking, myelin synthesis deficiency (msd), and trembler mutants, as well as immature and adult normal mice. The patterns were compared with respect to strength of myelin diffraction, background scatter level, repeat period, and intensity and linewidth of Bragg reflections. The deficiency of myelin in optic nerves was found to be (in decreasing severity): quaking greater immature greater trembler approximately normal adult; and in sciatic nerves: trembler greater immature greater quaking greater msd approximately normal adult. Repeat periods about 3 A less than that for normal adult sciatic myelin were detected in corresponding nerves from immature, quaking, and trembler mice. In some trembler sciatic nerves a second phase having a 190-200 A period and accounting for about 60% of the total ordered myelin was also evident. Comparison of electron density profiles of membrane units calculated from the repeat periods and diffracted intensities for sciatic myelins indicate structural differences at the molecular level. The main findings are: (1) quaking myelin shows a significant elevation of density in the external protein-water layer between membrane bilayers; (2) the membrane bilayer of immature myelin is approximately equal to 2 A thinner than that for normal adult; (3) the membrane bilayer of the more compact phase in trembler myelin is approximately equal to 5 A thinner than for normal; and (4) the difference in repeat periods for the two phases present in some of the trembler nerves can be accounted for predominantly by distinct membrane bilayer separations at the external boundary.