Microtubule-associated proteins: a monoclonal antibody to MAP2 binds to differentiated neurons

Hybridomas that secret IgG reacting specifically with the brain microtubule-associated protein MAP2 have been prepared with speen cells from BALB/c mice hyperimmunized with high molecular weight neurotubule-associated proteins. Immunofluorecence microscopy using dual fluorochrome labeling of tubulin and MAP2 antigens revealed identical patterns of interphase fiber networks in cells from explants of newborn mouse brain. The anti-MAP2 antibody did not stain primary mouse kidney cells or CHO, 3T3, HeLa, or PtK1 cell lines. Immunoprecipitation and antibody gel staining techniques failed to demonstrate any crossreacting antigen in these cells. MAP2 antigen was not seen in association with the mitotic spindle in any of the cells examined. Radioimmunoassay showed species crossreactivity of the anti-MAP2 antibody with mammalian but not avian neural cell extracts. Glial cells and some neuroblastoma cell lines did not appear to contain MAP2. However, in the B104 rat neuroblastoma cell line the MAP2 antigen appeared to be associated with the cytoskeleton concomitant with differentiation induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. In disagreement with most previously published reports, our data suggest that MAP2 is found only in differentiated neuronal cells and raises the possibility that MAP2 is involved in neuronal differentiation or neuron-specific processes.