Differential localization of two myosins within nematode thick filaments.
The body wall muscle cells of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, contain two unique types of myosin heavy chain, A and B. We have utilized an immunochemical approach to define the structural location of these two myosins within body wall muscle thick filaments. By immunofluorescence microscopy, myosin B antibodies label the thick filament-containing A-bands of body wall muscle with the exception of a thin gap at the center of each A-band, and myosin A antibodies react to form a medial fluorescent stripe within each A-band. The complexes of these monoclonal antibodies with isolated thick filaments were negatively stained and studied by electron microscopy. The myosin B antibody reacts with the polar regions of all filaments but does not react with a central 0.9 micron zone. The myosin A antibody reacts with a central 1.8 micron zone in all filaments but does not react with the polar regions.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002107:Caenorhabditis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis*; D009218:Myosins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009218:Myosins