Cell surface polypeptides of murine T-cell clones expressing cytolytic or amplifier activity.

Murine cytolytic T-cell and amplifier T-cell clones derived from secondary unidirectional mixed leukocyte cultures were labeled with 125I by the lactoperoxidase method and their polypeptide profiles were analyzed by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All cytolytic T-cell clones derived from the same mouse strain yeilded similar cell surface polypeptide profiles. However, profiles obtained with three amplifier T-cell clones were strikingly different from each other as well as from those of cytolytic T-cell clones. Comparison of these profiles with those obtained from mixed leukocyte culture cells, whole spleen cells, glass wool/nylon wool-purified splenic T-cells, and thymocytes indicates that cytolytic T-cell clones have a characteristic cell surface polypeptide profile that distinguishes this type of lymphocyte from most other lymphocytes.