Solubilization and developmental distribution of embryonic antigen of the chick red blood cell plasma membrane.

An antigen(s) on the surface of embryonic and newly hatched chick red blood cells was studied with antiserum absorbed with adult red blood cells. Because of the reappearance of the antigen or some cross-reactive antigen during myeloblastosis, attempts at solubilization and characterization of the antigen were pursued. Antigen was solubilized from whole red blood cell lysates or from red blood cell ghosts with 0.01 M Tris:0.1% Nonidet P40, pH 8.0. Antigen was assayed with an enhancement of agglutination assay. Enhancement apparently occurs because of available specific receptors for the antigen on newly hatched chick red blood cells. Antigen was also found to be present in plasma, and both the membrane-derived antigen and the plasma antigen were excluded from Sephadex G-100. Isoelectric focusing of the antigen extract indicated the presence of more than one molecular species with antigenic activity.