Cytolocalization of prosomes as a function of differentiation

Prosomes, ubiquitous ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles of defined biochemical and morphological structure, first isolated as a subcomplex of the repressed globin mRNP in avian and mouse erythroblasts, were also found in the cytoplasm of other vertebrates associated with other mRNAs. Here we show that prosomes are also present in the cell nucleus and, furthermore, that the cytolocalization of specific prosomal peptides is a function of differentiation. Four monoclonal antibodies, raised against the duck prosomal proteins, p27K, p28K, p29K and p31K (K = 10(3) Mr) react to variable degree with prosomes of chicken, mouse, and human cells. Immunocytochemical and biochemical analyses show that all four antigens are present in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of avian erythroblasts and avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV)-transformed erythroleukaemic cells. Interestingly, the prosomes disappear in the course of the terminal differentiation of erythroblasts to mature erythrocytes. Although all the four prosomal antigens tested are present in both the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments, slight differences in the immunofluorescent patterns indicate that each antigen may have a particular cytological distribution that varies in the course of differentiation.