title: Evidence for tektins in centrioles and axonemal microtubules.
abstract: Affinity purified, polyclonal antibodies were prepared against three tektins (tektins A, B, and C) isolated from sea urchin sperm axonemal microtubules. These antibodies (anti-tektins) were used to localize tektins in axonemes, basal bodies, and centrioles. By immunofluorescence microscopy it could be demonstrated that in sperm tails from Lytechinus pictus all three anti-tektins stain all nine axonemal doublet microtubules and A-tubule extensions along their entire length. In addition to staining doublet microtubules, anti-tektin C weakly labeled the central-pair microtubules in sperm tails from Patiria miniata. The anti-tektin staining revealed also a clear cross-reaction with basal bodies of sea urchin sperm and with centrioles of cells from hamsters, humans, and pigs. These data provide evidence of tektin or tektin-like proteins in basal bodies and centrioles and suggest that centriole microtubules are constructed according to the same principles as flagellar microtubules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Linck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002502:Centrioles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005407:Flagella / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008297:Male; D008868:Microtubule Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012617:Sea Urchins; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008868:Microtubule Proteins; C044103:tektins