Organization of microtubules in stabilized meristematic plant cells revealed by a rat monoclonal antibody reacting only with the tyrosinated form of alpha-tubulin.
A rat monoclonal antibody against yeast tubulin (clone YL 1/2; Kilmartin et al., 1982) that reacts specifically with mammalian alpha-tubulin carrying a carboxyterminal tyrosine residue (Wehland et al., 1983) was used to localize microtubules in plant cells derived from onion root apices (Allium cepa L.). YL 1/2 reacted with all types of microtubular arrays known to occur in higher plant meristematic cells such as interphase cortical microtubules, pre-prophase bands, the mitotic spindle and phragmoplast microtubules. The specific labeling of microtubules in isolated cells from onion root tips by YL 1/2 indicates that plant cells like animal cells contain tubulin tyrosine ligase, the enzyme which posttranslationally modifies alpha-tubulin. This enzyme could be involved in the dynamic regulation of microtubular arrays in all eukaryotic cells.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010944:Plants / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014404:Tubulin / Q000276:immunology*; D014443:Tyrosine
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D014404:Tubulin; D014443:Tyrosine