Characterization of HNK‐1 bearing glycoproteins in human peripheral nerve myelin

Abstract The HNK‐1 carbohydrate epitope, which is shared by several members of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily, is also the target epitope for IgM anti‐MAG autoantibodies in patients with demyelinating neuropathy. By Western blot analysis, there are 7 HNK‐1 immunoreactive glycoproteins in human peripheral nerve myelin, two of which have previously been identified as the myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) and the Po glycoprotein. In this study, the remaining HNK‐1 bearing glycoprotein bands were characterized by immunoblot and NH 2 ‐terminal sequence analysis, and were all identified as degradation products or aggregates of the Po glycoprotein. MAG and Po are therefore the only HNK‐1 bearing glycoproteins in human peripheral nerve myelin.