Temporal and spatial expression of a position specific antigen, AV-1, in chick limb buds

In a previous study, we demonstrated the presence of a position-specific antigen (AV-1) in chick limb buds at an early developmental stage. Here, we reported the temporal and spatial expressions and the biochemical characterization of the AV-1 antigen. Indirect immunofluorescence staining and immunoblot analysis clearly showed that the AV-1 antigen is a glycoprotein that is localized on the plasma membrane and that it is expressed from stage 19 and highly expressed at stages 22-26 in some middle-distal to anterior-distal region of limb buds. In the wing bud, at stage 28, the AV-1 antigen was faintly detected in the restricted space between the precartilaginous regions of the radius and the ulna, and those of the metacarpals 2 and 3, but not those of the metacarpals 3 and 4. Such stage-specific and "position-specific" expressions of the AV-1 antigen in limb buds strongly suggest that the AV-1 antigen or cells containing it are involved in determination of the limb pattern formation.