Antibodies to nuclear thyroid hormone-binding proteins. Antibody characterization and immunofluorescent localization

To further investigate the mechanism by which thyroid hormones regulate target cell function, we have prepared and partially characterized antibodies to highly purified nuclear thyroid hormone-binding proteins (NTBP). NTBPs were prepared from bovine liver nuclear extracts by bio-specific elution from an affinity gel containing immobilized 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3). Antibodies (Ab) raised to NTBP in BALB/c mice were assayed for Ab-NTBP complex formation on HPLC TSK SW3000 molecular exclusion gels and found to be species-specific and non-cross-reactive with serum thyroid hormone-binding proteins. Most of the antibody activity was directed against two fractions of molecular weight (MW) 89 000 and 53 000, which were associated with thyroxine (T4)-binding activity. The 89 000 D T4-binding activity was shifted to a higher MW complex when incubated with specific antibody. Indirect immunofluorescence showed antibody activity against discrete, clumped chromatin sites, nuclear envelope and plasma membrane in hepatocytes. Intense fluorescence was also observed in the cells lining the hepatic sinusoids and in the cytoskeleton of bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture. The data suggest that thyroid hormone target cells contain extranuclear loci that share antigenic sites with NTBP and may also represent specific NTBP-like sites of thyroid hormone binding.