title: Isolation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to cytoskeletal and membrane proteins of the Paramecium cortex.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies have been generated against whole cortical fragments of Paramecium to provide tools for the analysis of cortex morphogenesis as well as for the biochemical dissection of this complex membrane-cytoskeleton structure. Of 80 positive hybridomas in ELISA tests, 17 monoclonal were characterized by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence tests on sectioned as well as on Triton-permeabilized cells (including confocal microscopy), and by EM immunocytochemistry on permeabilized cells. Five classes of monoclonals were obtained directed, respectively, against the epiplasm (or elements tightly associated with it), the trichocysts, the microtubules, the surface membranes, and poorly defined intracellular antigens. Of these, the newest and most promising appear to be a set of monoclonals decorating both intensely and sharply some specific parts of the epiplasm (outer periphery, outer central part or core). These antibodies therefore provide the first demonstration of a molecular heterogeneity of composition at the level of individual epiplasmic scales in Paramecium. In addition, they offer powerful tools to follow the biogenesis of these structures during cell division. Finally, they have allowed the identification of a number of previously uncharacterized protein components of the cortex.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire 4 (URA D-1134 du CNRS), Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jeanmaire-Wolf
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Clérot
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nahon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iftode
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adoutte