Immunoelectrophoretic studies on pig intestinal brush border proteins

Abstract

Brush borders were prepared from pig intestinal mucosa and the membrane proteins solubilized with either Triton X-100 or papain. Proteins, thus released, were used as antigens to raise antisera in rabbits. The immunoglobulin G fractions were isolated and shown by the double layer immunofluorescence staining technique to react only with the brush border region of the enterocyte. The antibodies obtained were used in immunoelectrophoretic studies on the brush border proteins. Eight hydrolytic activities were identified by the use of histo-chemical staining methods. These were the microsomal aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2), aspartate aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.7), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.X), lactase (EC 3.2.1.23), glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3), sucrase (EC 3.2.1.48), isomaltase (EC 3.2.1.10) and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1). In addition, at least four faint immunoprecipitates were formed but none of these were identified.