Rat Thy-1 Antigens from Thymus and Brain: Their Tissue Distribution, Purification, and Chemical Composition

Abstract

Differentiation antigens of the lymphocyte cell surface are molecules whose antigenic determinants are found on lymphocytes but generally not on other tissues (Bennett et al. 1972; Williams 1977). These antigens have been used to mark different types of lymphocytes and to determine relationships between different cells in ontogeny. At a more fundamental level, the antigens themselves may be involved in specific lymphocyte functions. One approach to evaluating the roles of differentiation antigens at the cell surface is to purify the molecules and determine their molecular characteristics. The availability of purified molecules would also allow the production of specific antibodies at a high concentration for use in functional studies.