Here we report on a monoclonal antibody (IST-9) which distinguishes between human cellular and plasma fibronectin. Using β-galactosidase-fibronectin fusion proteins expressed in E. coli we have demonstrated that this monoclonal antibody is specific for a fibronectin segment (ED) which can be included or omitted from the molecule depending on the pattern of splicing of the mRNA precursors. Furthermore, using the same fusion proteins we have been able to localize precisely the epitopes of two other monoclonal antibodies (IST-1 and IST-2), specific for the heparin-binding domain 5 of fibronectin.
