Monoclonal antibodies to surface and cytoskeletal components of the spermatozoid of Pteridium aquilinum

Detergent extracted spermatozoids of the fern Pteridium aquilinum were used as mixed antigen preparations for raising monoclonal antibodies in order to obtain reagents for detecting as yet uncharacterized components of the plant cytoskeleton. Selected antibodies were studied by immunofluorescence microscopy of developing spermatids and mature spermatozoids. Some reacted directly with fixed cells, others required permeabilization treatments with cold methanol or Triton X-100. Antibodies Pas2D9 and Pas6D7 bind to glycoprotein antigenic determinants that are exposed on the surface of the plasma membrane. Several antibodies interact with cytoskeletal components. Pas1D3, Pas5D8 and Pas5F4 bind to the cytoskeleton of permeabilized cells including the flagella. Three react specifically with the flagellar band or associated components:Pas2G6 reacts with the whole flagellar band but shows a prominent binding to basal bodies, Pas5E2 binds exclusively to basal bodies, and Pas5E7 detects mitochondria associated with the flagellar band. Cross-reactions to wheat root tip cells at different stages of the cell cycle are described in Marc and Gunning (1988).