A specific high-affinity binding macromolecule for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in fetal bone.

Cytosol fractions were prepared from fetal rat or embryonic chick calvaria and analyzed for binding of vitamin D3 metabolites on sucrose density gradients. Both cytosol fractions contain a 3.5S macromolecule which specifically binds 1,25-dihydroxy-[3H]vitamin D3 and in addition, a 5 to 6S macromolecule which binds 25-hydroxy-[3H]vitamin D3. In rat calvaria cytosol, 1,25-dihydroxy-[3H]vitamin D3 also binds to the 5 to 6S macromolecule but appears to have greater affinity for the 3.5S component.