Localisation of proteins in coated micropinocytotic vesicles during transport across rabbit yolk sac endoderm

Summary Rabbit yolk sac splanchnopleur exposed in utero to IgG-HRP and IgG-ferritin conjugates, rabbit and bovine anti-HRP antibodies, free HRP, ferritin and human IgG, was examined ultrastructurally in an attempt to determine whether or not coated micropinocytotic vesicles are involved in selectively transporting immunoglobulins across yolk sac endodermal cells. Human, rabbit and bovine IgG-HRP conjugates, rabbit anti-HRP antibodies, free HRP and human IgG, all become localised in coated micropinocytotic vesicles. Differences were observed in that only human IgG and rabbit anti-HRP antibodies could be located in the intercellular space and bovine IgG-HRP conjugate could not be detected in coated micropinocytotic vesicles in confluence with the lateral and basal plasmalemma. Bovine anti-HRP antibodies, IgG-ferritin conjugates, and free ferritin, could not be observed in coated micropinocytotic vesicles. All proteins were detected in macropinocytotic vesicles, and dense bodies resembling phagolysosomes. Results are discussed in the light of a proposal that selection occurs at the cell surface during formation of coated micropinocytotic vesicles and is not linked to intracellular proteolysis.Supported by an award from the Medical Research Council, to whom grateful acknowledgement is made