Characterization and distribution of albumin binding protein in normal rat kidney. Cessac-Guillemet, Anne Lise, Francoise Mounier, Caroline Borot, Hilaire Bakala, Martine Perichon, Madeleine Schaeverbeke, and Jean Schaeverbeke. Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire, Universit[acute]e Paris 7, Case 7128, 2, place Jussieu, 75251 Paris CEDEX 05, France and CIME, Universit[acute]e Paris 6, 7 quai St Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
APStracts 3:0024F, 1996.
The mechanism by which proteins that pass throught the glomerular basal lamina are taken by proximal tubule cells is incompletely characterized. Past work has identified the kinetics of albumin binding to renal brush border membrane. We have now purified and characterized albumin binding protein (ABP) and shown its distribution in renal proximal tubular cells. ABP was purified from rat renal proximal tubular cell brush-border membrane by affinity chromatography with rat serum albumin-sepharose. The resulting ABP had two apparent molecular weights (55 kDa and 31 kDa) by SDS PAGE. Antibodies to ABP were raised in rabbits and checked by immunoassay and immunoblotting. Light microscope immunohistochemistry showed ABP all along the proximal tubule in the pars convoluta and in the pars recta. Electron microscope immunohistochemistry showed labelling on microvilli and in apical endocytic vacuoles, dense apical tubules and lysosomes. These results indicate that ABP is involved in proximal tubule endocytosis.

Received 19 July 1995; accepted in final form 19 January 1996.
APS Manuscript Number F240-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Fluid Electrolyte
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 8 February 96