A unique polypeptide on avian antigen-specific suppressor T-cell radioiodinated in situ by antigen-lactoperoxidase...

Antigen-specific receptors of B- or T-cells were selectively radiolabeled among the spleen cells from either human gammaglobulin immunized normal or bursectomized agammaglobulinemic chickens. Selective in situ radioiodination was accomplished by employing lactoperoxidase (LPO) covalently linked to antigen (Ag). Ag-specific receptors on B- or T-cells were allowed to bind Ag-LPO conjugates via the Ag portion of the conjugates and then to be selectively catalyzed for iodination by the LPO portion of the bound Ag-LPO conjugates. Radioiodinated cells were either processed for autoradiography to detect Ag-binding cells directly under the microscope or solubilized with detergents for protein analysis with two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. On a cellular level, Ag-binding B- and T-cells were selectively radiolabeled and clearly visualized via autoradiography. On a molecular level, selectively radiolabeled Ag-specific membrane immunoglobulin of B-cells was demonstrated on 2-D gel autoradiographs. Furthermore, a unique polypeptide of Ag-specific T-cells with a reduced apparent mol. wt of 27 K and an apparent pI of 5.5-5.7 was demonstrated on 2-D gel autoradiograms. The 27 K molecule appears to be a T-cell receptor component itself, or a closely associated molecule.