Reaction of tonofilament-like intermediate-sized filaments with antibodies raised against isolated defined polypeptides of bovine hoof prekeratin.

Total purified and reconstituted bovine hoof prekeratin, containing several polypeptides, as well as individual polypeptide size classes isolated therefrom were used as antigens in guinea pigs. The antibodies raised against these protein preparations were found to decorate the system of wavy arrays of tonofilament-like, intermediate-sized filaments present in various epithelial and epithelia-derived cells. Strong cross-reaction between different vertebrate species was noted, including amphibia. Positive results were obtained with original sera as well as with IgG fractions and antibodies made monospecific by chromatography on total bovine prekeratin covalently bound to Sepharose. Among the antisera raised against the different polypeptide size classes the most intense decoration of fibrillar arrays was obtained with antibodies against fraction 4 which contained polypeptides VI and VII.