Development of a monoclonal antibody identifying an antigen which is segregated to the sinusoidal and lateral plasma membranes of rat hepatocytes.

We developed a monoclonal antibody to the plasma membrane of rat hepatocytes. Immunoelectron microscopic characterization of an antigen identified by our antibody revealed that the antigen was present diffusely on the sinusoidal and lateral plasma membranes of hepatocytes but absent from the bile canalicular membrane. Sinusoidal lining cells (Kupffer cells and endothelial cells) were devoid of the antigen. Within hepatocytes, the antigen was present in the Golgi complexes, segments of endoplasmic reticulum and small vesicle-like structures. The development of the monoclonal antibody to the segregated membrane antigen of the hepatocyte in this study provides a reliable marker of specific membrane domains for use of isolation of plasma membrane surfaces and is a useful tool for investigation of the transferring mechanisms of membrane proteins to their destinations.