Cell-specific antigens in chicken erythroid nuclei: species specificity

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Abstract
Antisera raised to dehistonized chicken reticulocyte chromatin were tested for cell and species specificity. Quantitative microcomplement fixation and immunohistochemical localization revealed the presence in chromatin of erythroid cell-specific nonhistone protein antigen(s). Antigenic specificity depended on the association of the antigenic protein(s) with DNA. Although the antisera were exceptionally cell specific, they cross-reacted with erythroid cells of other avian species. The extent of cross-reactivity approximated phylogenetic distances of the tested avian species. Erythroid cells from fish and amphibians were not reactive. Reconstitution experiments of partially purified chicken reticulocyte chromosomal nonhistone protein antigens with DNA isolated from several vertebrate species showed that the species specificity of the antigenic complexes was determined principally by the species origin of the nonhistone proteins. A cell-specific chromosomal nonhistone protein(s) has undergone evolutionary change and the relative immunological differences observed are consistent with the accepted phylogenetic distances of the species examined.