Abstract
Abstract
The adipocyte plasma membrane is composed of specific intrinsic, integral, and extrinsic proteins. The study of adipocyte development, morphology, and metabolism has been limited by a lack of characterization of these proteins. It seems likely that the adipocyte plasma membrane possesses adipocyte-specific proteins which may be linked to the unique identity of adipose tissues. To study the composition of the adipocyte plasma membrane, we produced a panel of monoclonal antibodies to purified adipocyte plasma membranes. Nineteen anti-adipocyte hybridoma cell lines were identified using fluorescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting, and indirect immunofluorescence. A monoclonal antibody (designated LA-1) with reactivity toward a porcine adipocyte plasma membrane component was used for further adipocyte characterization. LA-1 reacted with a species-specific 64-kDa protein expressed in adipocyte plasma membranes but not in hepatocyte, erythrocyte, skeletal muscle, heart, spleen, kidney, stomach, small intestine, or large intestine plasma membranes. The LA-1 antibody provides a specific probe for this adipocyte surface protein marker.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.