Immunochemical characterization of surface antigens of TerC, a teratocarcinoma-derived cell line

Rabbit and mouse antisera prepared against teratocarcinoma cells precipitate both glycoproteins and glycolipids from detergent extracts of radiolabeled cells. Extracts of immunoprecipitates with chloroform/methanol, 2:1 (vol/vol) have been resolved on thin-layer gels into multiple peaks. There are more species seen in extracts of teratocarcinoma cells than in extracts of the crossreacting cultured cell line, cl 1d. The teratocarcinoma antigens may be extracted out of chloroform/methanol into buffered saline. Incubation in these secondary extracts converts unreactive cells (lymphocytes) to cells reactive with antisera against teratocarcinoma. Furthermore, the coated cells absorb at least 80% of the activity of antisera against teratocarcinoma targets.