A monoclonal antibody to animal centrosomes recognizes components of the basal-body root complex inChlamydomonas

Summary The mammalian centrosome monoclonal antibody MPM-13 recognized component(s) of the well defined MTOC basal-body root complex in the green plantChlamydomonas. 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.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - DAPI 4,6-diamidine-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride - mt mating type - MT microtubule - MTOC microtubule organizing centre - PFA paraformaldehyde - PBS phosphate buffered saline