2-D gel membrane protein patterns during fetal rat hepatocyte development

Fetal hepatocytes from rats of 13-20 days of gestation were 125I/surface-labelled. Autoradiographs of the plasma membrane proteins, analyzed by 2-D gel electrophoresis, were compared with those from adult hepatocytes and two hepatoma lines. The autoradiographic patterns of membrane proteins from 13 and 15 day fetal hepatocytes were similar. Between days 13 and 20 of gestation, at least 24 new iodinatable proteins appeared in the plasma membrane of fetal hepatocytes. Whilst between day 20 of gestation and adult life, at least 21 new membrane proteins appeared. Two membrane proteins, one acidic (MW 25,000) and a more basic protein (MW 45,000) were present in fetal hepatocytes but absent from adult hepatocytes. The membrane protein patterns from two hepatoma lines were less complex than those of adult hepatocytes.