A monoclonal antibody which detects a 125 kd glycoprotein on embryonal carcinoma cells and is mitogenic for murine spleen cells.

The isolation and characterisation of a monoclonal antibody (2H9), selected for reactivity against murine teratocarcinoma stem cells, is described. This antibody recognizes one major glycoprotein on the surface of embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells but detects multiple glycoprotein species on various murine or human derived cell types. The binding of the antibody to cells is abolished by treatment with periodate or neuraminidase. These results suggest that 2H9 antibody detects a carbohydrate determinant; this is apparently distinct from other anti-EC reactive monoclonal antibodies and a variety of lectins. These antibodies are mitogenic for a population of lymphocytes in murine spleen. The antibodies recognize numerous cell surface glycoproteins on the surface of the spleen cells.