Changes in the distribution of the 34-kdalton tyrosine kinase substrate during differentiation and maturation of chicken tissues

We examined the distribution of the 34-kilodalton (34-kD) tyrosine kinase substrate in tissues of adult and embryonic chicken using both a mouse monoclonal antibody and a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against the affinity purified 34 kD protein. We analyzed the localization by immunoblotting of tissue extracts, by immunofluorescence staining of frozen tissue sections, and by staining sections of paraffin-embedded organs by the peroxidase antiperoxidase method. The 34-kD protein was present in a variety of cells, including epithelial cells of the skin, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts, as well as in fibroblasts and chondrocytes of connective tissue and mature cartilage, and endothelial cells of blood vessels. The 34-kD protein was also found in subpopulations of cells in thymus, spleen, bone marrow, and bursa. The protein was not detected in cardiac, skeletal, or smooth muscle cells, nor in epithelial cells of liver, kidney, pancreas, and several other glands. Although most neuronal cells did not contain the 34-kD protein, some localized brain regions did contain detectable amounts of this protein. The 34-kD protein was not detected in actively dividing cells of a number of tissues. Changes in the distribution of the 34-kD protein were observed during the differentiation or maturation of cells in several tissues including epithelial cells of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, fibroblasts of connective tissue, and chondroblasts.