Developmental regulation of sterol carrier protein 2 in chicken intestine and liver at time of hatching.

Sterol Carrier Protein 2, a protein thought to be involved in various aspects of intracellular sterol transport and metabolism, was studied in the small intestine and liver of chickens near hatching. In the intestine, a sudden shift in molecular mass, from 12 kDa to 64 kDa was noted by Western blotting on the day of hatching. Immediately post-hatching, the molecular mass returned to 12 kDa but the protein was several fold more abundant than prior to hatching. In the liver, several molecular mass forms were present at all ages examined but total shift to the 64 kDa form was not seen. Following hatching, however, the 12 kDa form became more abundant. Regardless of age of bird or molecular mass, the protein was found mainly in peroxisomes.