Painting Qa-2 onto Ped slow preimplantation embryos increases the rate of cleavage.
OBJECTIVE
Qa-2 protein, the Ped gene product, is linked to the cell surface by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Some GPI-linked proteins can be spontaneously incorporated into the membranes of cells via a technique called "protein painting."We investigated whether Qa-2 could be painted onto T cells and embryos and whether the painted protein would be functional.


METHODS
Incorporation of Qa-2 into the membranes of T cells and embryos was measured by FACScan and Immuno-PCR, respectively. Function of Qa-2 was measured by cell proliferation.


RESULTS
Qa-2 was incorporated by T cells and embryos and was functional.


CONCLUSIONS
GPI-linked Qa-2 protein "painted" onto both T cells and preimplantation embryos is functional, as shown by increased proliferation of T cells after cross-linking with anti-Qa-2 antibody, and increased rate of cleavage division of the embryos.
McElhinny
A S
AS
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.
Exley
G E
GE
Warner
C M
CM
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C032907:Q surface antigens