Characterization of a polymorphic protein localized to vascular epithelium in Botryllus schlosseri: role in tunic synthesis?
To develop an antibody-based screen for epitopes involved in botryllid historecognition, BALB/c mice were immunized with whole Botryllus schlosseri colonies. Resulting monoclonal antibodies were screened for alpha or beta fusibility types using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical staining. One monoclonal antibody (109) that recognized a polymorphic epitope was further analyzed by Western blotting. It binds a species-specific epitope localized to the atrial siphon and blood vessels. The epitope does not cosegregate with fusibility type. A complementary DNA clone encoding this antigen contains an endoplasmic reticulum retention motif. Polymorphism observed on Western blots was confirmed by Northern blot analysis. This antigen provides a new polymorphic marker that may be useful in studies of tunic formation.
Fagan
M B
MB
Departments of Pathology, Developmental Biology, and Biological Sciences, Stanford University, and Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Weissman
I L
IL
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001483:Base Sequence; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D014561:Urochordata / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C114587:Bs109 protein, Botryllus schlosseri; D000939:Epitopes; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins