Biochemical characterization of avian T lymphocyte-specific antigens.

Sera from rabbits injected with quail thymocytes were absorbed on quail bursal and liver cells. The absorbed sera reacted with avian T but not B lymphocytes in an immunofluorescence assay. Material precipitated by the anti-T antisera from lysates of radioiodinated chicken or quail thymocytes was analyzed by one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Of two anti-T cell antisera studied in detail, one reacted mainly with a protein of an apparent molecular weight of 45 000 - 55 000, and the other with a protein of an apparent molecular weight 65 000 - 70 000. These proteins may be homologues of previously described mammalian T lymphocytes-specific antigens.