Macromolecular insoluble cold globulin (MICG) : a marker for embryonic prothymocytes in the mouse
Batuman, O.A.; Schmidt, R.R.; Hauptman, S.P.
Journal of Immunology 127(6): 2560-2565
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 7028876 Document Number: 176116
Adult thymocytes and peripheral T cells synthesize and insert a glycoprotein into their plasma membrane that is termed macromolecular insoluble cold globulin (MICG). This protein, in contrast to other T cell markers, was shown to be present in embryonic prothymocytes as soon as they appear in the thymic rudiment. Furthermore, some hematopoietic cells in the fetal liver were shown to contain MICG at a period in gestation before the completion of lymphocyte migration to the thymus. These results are discussed in terms of the requirements for embryonic cell migration.