Polymorphism in clathrin light chains from different tissues.

Two types of light chains were observed in clathrins from different bovine tissues. Clathrin was purified from seven different bovine tissues using immunoaffinity columns prepared from a monoclonal antibody specific for the heavier light chain (LCa) of bovine brain clathrin. The LCa equivalent in clathrin from non-brain tissue was identified by monoclonal antibody binding to electrophoretic blots of these clathrins. The LCa and LCb light chains of bovine brain clathrin are, respectively, 4 X 10(3) daltons and 3 X 10(3) daltons heavier than their corresponding light chains in other tissues. The light chains from tissues other than brain are similar in molecular weight.