title: A carbohydrate epitope defined by monoclonal antibody VC1.1 is found on N-CAM and other cell adhesion molecules.
abstract: VC1.1 is a monoclonal antibody that stains the surfaces of neuronal subsets in the brain. Previous work showed that VC1.1 recognizes 3 polypeptide bands with molecular weights of 95-105 kDa, 140 kDa and 170 kDa and two high molecular weight proteoglycans with weights of approximately 680 and 650-700 kDa. The heterogeneity and molecular weight range of these bands suggested that VC1.1 might recognize a carbohydrate moiety associated with a family of cell surface molecules. It had been previously demonstrated that a separate monoclonal antibody, HNK-1 also recognized a cell surface associated epitope characterized as a sulfate- and glucuronic acid-containing N-linked carbohydrate. This epitope has been shown to be present on members of the N-CAM adhesion molecule family. In this report, we demonstrate that VC1.1 recognizes an N-linked carbohydrate group that is attached to myelin-associated glycoprotein and N-CAM. Immunocytochemical and biochemical comparisons of VC1.1 and HNK-1 staining in rat and cat brain indicate that these two antibodies probably recognize overlapping, or identical carbohydrate epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Naegele
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Barnstable
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000276:immunology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000276:immunology; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002241:Carbohydrates; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D000939:Epitopes; D011509:Proteoglycans; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates