PRODUCTION OF A SPECIFIC POLYCLONAL ANTIBODY AGAINST THE RAT BETA-THYROID RECEPTOR, USING SYNTHETIC PEPTIDE AS ANTIGEN

We have developed a polyclonal antibody to a synthetic peptide corresponding to the deduced amino acid residues 67-80 of the amino terminal sequence of the rat thyroid receptor beta-cDNA. Immunopositive sera were identified by radioimmunoassay and purified by affinity chromatography. The antibody specifically immunoprecipitated the labelled thyroid receptor beta synthetized in vitro but not the rat thyroid receptor alpha. Furthermore, 38% of the L-T3 binding capacity of the rat liver nuclear receptor were immunoabsorbed by this antibody. By immunocytochemistry, this antibody stained specifically the nuclei of hepatocytes while no staining was observed in the rat testis. This study presents a specific polyclonal antibody against the thyroid receptor beta. This antibody will be of a great help in determining the role of the beta receptors in the mechanism of action of thyroid hormone.