Pam-Igloo-L Antibody

Axogenesis and synaptic signal transmission in the vertebrate nervous system are based on the abundant expression of the growth-associated protein GAP-43. In non-vertebrates a GAP-43 related gene (igloo, invertebrate GAP-43 like) was found in Drosophila and encodes two proteins, IGLOO-L and IGLOO-S, with sequence homology and similar biochemical activity to GAP-43. We have cloned a GAP-43-like gene in a holometabolic insect, the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. As for Drosophila, we found two putative pigl mRNAs, pigl-L and pigl-S, in the cockroach (Fig. 1) . Immunocytochemical investigations with a antiserum to Pam-Igl L and Pam-Igl S provide a function for Pam-Igloo L in establishment or maintenance of synaptic contacts and can help to understand the ongoing expression of GAP-43 in the mature nervous system (Hänold, 2004) .