title: Site-specific inhibition of myosin-mediated motility in vitro by monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies directed against seven different sites on Dictyostelium myosin (Peltz, G., J. A. Spudich, and P. Parham, 1985, J. Cell Biol., 100: 1016-1023) were tested for their ability to inhibit movement of myosin in vitro, using the Nitella-based myosin-mediated bead movement assay (Sheetz, M. P., R. Chasan, and J. A. Spudich, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 99: 1867-1871). To complement this functional assay, we located the binding sites of these antibodies by electron microscopy, using the rotary shadowing technique. One antibody bound to the 18,000-dalton light chain and inhibited movement completely. All of the remaining antibodies bound to various positions along the rod portion of the myosin molecule, which is approximately 1,800 A long. Antibodies that bound to the rod about 470, 680, and 1400 A from the head-tail junction did not alter myosin movement. One antibody appeared to bind very close to the head-tail junction and to inhibit movement 50%. Surprisingly, three antibodies that bound about 1,200 A from the head-tail junction inhibited movement completely. This inhibition did not depend on using intact IgG, since Fab' fragments had the same effect.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009218:Myosins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009218:Myosins