Characterization of cell surface antigen L2 recognized by monoclonal antibody

Abstract

L2 antigen is expressed at the cell surface of neurons and glia in the developing embryonic and postnatal mouse cerebellar cortex.In monolayer cultures the antigen is strongly detectable on an immature neural subpopulation which expresses tetanus toxin receptors, vimentin, which is an early astroglial marker, and, to a considerably lower degree, glial fibrillary acidic protein.Most, but not all of these L2 antigen-positive cells also express the developmentally early oligodendroglial marker 04 antigen, but not 01 antigen which is characteristic of more differentiated oligodendrocytes. Antigen A2B5 is also expressed on these cells.Immunoaffinity purification of L2 antigen yields five bands by SDS-PAGE with apparent molecular weights of 225, 200, 180, 140 and 70 kilodaltons. A monoclonal antibody that decreases synapses in developing retina. Trisler, D., Nirenberg, M.