A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TO ANIMAL CENTROSOMES RECOGNIZES COMPONENTS OF THE BASAL-BODY ROOT COMPLEX IN CHLAMYDOMONAS

The mammalian centrosome monoclonal antibody MPM-13 recognized component(s) of the well defined MTOC basal-body root complex in the green plant Chlamydomonas. The antibody reaction coincided in location with the basal-body root complex and the cruciate nature of the staining pattern corresponded to the configuration of the root microtubules. During mitosis the behaviour of MPM-13 stained material mirrored the duplication, separation and migration to the spindle poles of the basal body-root complex. It is suggested that conserved MTOC components were recognized and that these may have retained a similar, perhaps universal, function in microtubule organization. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.