Molecular characterization of human trk proto-oncogene product monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for the human trk protooncogene product, a tyrosine kinase receptor, have been produced from mice in which tumors were generated by injection of stably transfected NIH3T3 cells expressing the human trk proto-oncogene product. The panel of eleven antibodies are reactive in ELISA, immunostaining and immunoprecipitation. These antibodies bind to the extracellular domain of the human trk proto-oncogene product and demonstrate no cross-reactivity to the trk oncogene or murine trkB gene products. The antibodies are equally effective in recognizing human proto-trk when expressed by transfected human or mouse cell lines. These antibodies either bind to the carbohydrate moieties or are dependent upon the conformational structure created by the extensive glycosylations. The localization and nature of the epitopes recognized by these monoclonal antibodies were defined by immunoprecipitation analyses using several different trk oncoproteins. Potential applications of these antibodies are discussed.