Immunohistochemical localization of mouse Clara cell 10-KD protein using antibodies raised against the recombinant protein.

To investigate the developmental regulation of the mouse Clara cell 10-KD protein (mCC10), we raised an antibody against the recombinant mCC10 protein. The coding region for the mature mCC10 protein was placed in frame with the glutathione-S-transferase gene in the pGEX2-T bacterial expression vector. The GST-mCC10 fusion protein was expressed in E. coli DH5 alpha cells. The fusion protein was purified and eluted using glutathione-Sepharose beads. The GST-mCC10 fusion protein was injected into rabbits to raise antibodies. The rabbit anti-mCC10 antibody was tested by immunoblot analysis using both purified protein as well as extracts of lung, liver, and uterus. The antibodies produced were used in immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy to detect the cellular localization of this protein in the above organs. This anti-mCC10 antibody will be useful for future investigation of the developmental biology of the lung.