DISTRIBUTION OF THE CDC2 GENE-PRODUCT IN NORMAL-TISSUES - AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY USING 4 NEW MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

The reproductive cycle in eukaryotic cells is partly controlled by the p34 protein kinase, the product of the cdc2 gene. We report here the tissue reactivity of four new anti-cdc2 monoclonal antibodies in relat ion to the known proliferation markers Ki-67 and JC1. In tissues where proliferation occurs, germinal centres in the tonsil, basal layers of tonsular epithelium and skin, cortex of the thymus, seminiferous tubu les of the testis and epithelium of the colon, the anti-cdc2 antibodie s gave positive nuclear staining as did the proliferation markers. The percentage of positive cells was, however, lower with the cdc2 antibo dies. Given the role of the cdc2 gene at specific points of the cell c ycle, these antibodies are potentially useful as markers of different phases of the cell cycle and may help to detect abnormalities in cell cycle control in disease.