Neutrophilic leukocyte membrane proteins. I. Isolation

Human neutrophil plasma membrane. Specific labelling, topological distribution of proteins and surface antigen detection

We describe here the major protein components of a highly purified human neutrophil plasma membrane fraction analyzed by uni- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, as well as their glycoprotein nature as determined by PAS staining, [125I]-Con A binding and [3H]-sodium borohydride labelling. A polypeptide of about 150 kDa appeared as the main Con A binding protein. The topology of the polypeptides has also been determined by protein labelling from the outside of the cell surface by lactoperoxidase catalyzed iodination and from within the bilayer by using the hydrophobic reagent [125I]-iodonaphtylazide. The antigenic features of some cell surface polypeptides have also been determined by the use of monoclonal antibodies. In this context we have detected by immunoprecipitation in human neutrophils the antigen MAC 120, previously found in monocytes and putatively associated with antigen presenting function.

Distribution of wheat germ agglutinin binding sites on normal human and guinea pig bone marrow cells: an ultrastructural histochemical study

The wheat germ agglutinin-gold labeled ovomucoid (WGA-Ovo-G) method has been employed in the ultrastructural localization of WGA surface receptor sites on gluteraldehyde-fixed normal human and guinea pig bone marrow cells. The number of gold particles per micron of cell surface were counted and data subjected to statistical analysis. WGA labeling of the bone marrow cells was found to be quite heavy and evenly distributed along the cell surface. Only macrophages, in both species, and a number of lymphocytes in the guinea pig exhibited limited WGA labeling. Comparison of morphologically similar cell types in human and guinea pig marrow indicated that WGA receptor sites were more abundant on the guinea pig hemic cells. WGA surface labeling was found to be not only related to cell type and to animal species but, in some instances, varied with the stage of maturation of a given cell line; viz., neutrophilic cell series in both man and guinea pig and erythrocytic cell series in the guinea pig.