Identification of four different CD46 (MCP) molecules with anti-peptide antibodies

Four protein isoforms of the human CD46 molecule (MCP) have been identified using rabbit antisera against synthetic peptides corresponding to predicted cytoplasmic carboxyl-terminal sequences. Two different cytoplasmic tails, CD46 CYT 1 and CD46 CYT 2, were detected in CD46 molecules isolated from almost every cell type examined. Bands of 56 and 66 kDa were obtained from SDS-PAGE analyses of various cell types with both CYT 1 and CYT 2 antisera, which indicated that the size polymorphism of the CD46 molecule is not due to variations in the cytoplasmic tail and that each species contained two different sized molecules.