Possible relationship of brain cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive protein to voltage-gated sodium channel shown by monoclonal antibody.

Biochemical events leading to the formation of mature membrane-associated sodium channel proteins are not completely understood. We have recently purified a protein from the cytoplasm of brain cells, which is able to become incorporated into liposomes and induce neurotoxin-dependent sodium permeability. Here we report data on a monoclonal antibody derived against this protein. This antibody crossreacts with cell membrane preparations. The antibody binding to viable neuroblastoma cells is inhibited by veratrine, indicating that membrane molecules antigenically related to the cytoplasmic protein may also be related to the voltage-gated sodium channel.