MYELIN EVOLUTION

Updated 11/13/09

Best known among the vertebrates, axonal ensheathments that are functionally almost identical to vertebrate myelin have arisen several times among invertebrates. The molecules, mechanisms and selective forces underlying this remarkable case of convergent evolution make a fascinating study. These pages attempt to outline what is known about myelin evolution and provide links to relevant sources and resources. [Please report factual erors, broken links, etc to Dan Hartline (danh at hawaii.edu)].

Myelin evolution

Background on the evolution of myelin Researchers interested in myelin evolution List of researchers interested in the evolution of myelin

2007 NESCent meeting on myelin evolution

A meeting "Myelin: a new model for evolutionary innovation" was held at Duke University September 16-19, 2007. The link is to pages with details on the program.

Publications and Postings on Myelin Evolution

A recent issue of Neuron and Glia Biology edited by Robert Gould featues 9 articles in thea area. For the Table of Contents click here

See also literature list on invertebrate myelin

Bullock, T.H., J.K. Moore, and R.D. Fields 1984. "Evolution of myelin sheaths: Both lamprey and hagfish lack myelin." Neurosci. Lett. 48: 145-148.
Hartline, D.K. and D. Colman 2007. "Rapid conduction and the evolution of giant axons and myelinated fibers" Curr. Biol. 17: R29-R35 .
Möbius, W., J. Patzig, K-A Nave and H.B. Werner, 2009. Phylogeny of proteolipid proteins: divergence, constraints, and the evolution of novel functions in myelination and neuroprotection. Neuron Glia Biol. 4(2): 111-127. (A HREF="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=NGB&volumeId=4&seriesId=0&issueId=02#">Abstract)
Roots, B.I. 1984. "Evolutional aspects of the structure and function of the nodes of Ranvier." In: Zagoren, JC, Fedoroff S (eds) The Node of Ranvier. Academic Press, Orlando, pp 1-29
Roots, B.I. 1993. "The evolution of myelin." Adv. neural Sci. 1: 187-213
Roots, B.I. 1995. "The evolution of myelinating cells." In A.Vernadakis and B. Roots, (eds) Neuron-Glia Interrelations During Phylogeny: I. Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Glial Cells. Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ.
Roots, B.I. 2009. The phylogeny of invertebrates and the evolution of myelin. Neuron Glia Biol. 4(2): 101-109. (Abstract)
Schweigreiter, R., B.I. Roots, C.E. Bandtlow, and R.M. Gould. 2006. "Understanding myelination through studying its evolution." Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 73: 219-73.
Waehneldt, T.V. 1990. "Phylogeny of myelin proteins." Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 605 15-28.
Zalc, B., and D.R. Colman. 2000. "Origins of vertebrate success." Science 288: 271-272.

Links to related sites

Invertebrate Myelin web site

PBRC Home Page.

Petra Lenz' Home Page

Dan Hartline's Home Page

Acknowledgements & Disclaimers: In compliance with government regulation, be it known that "This material is based upon work supported by the

National Science Foundation under Grants No. 9604505, 9906223 and 0451376" and by NIH grant RR/AI-03061 to PBRC (Kenneth P. Mortimer, P.I.). Further, that "any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Scinence Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, or any other sponsoring organization."