Evidence for Tektins in Centrioles and Axonemal Microtubules

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 85; no. 8; pp. 2643 - 2647
• Main Authors: Steffen, W., Linck, R. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 01.04.1988; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell biology; Cell lines; Cell structures and functions; Cells; Centrioles; Centrioles - physiology; Centrioles - ultrastructure; Cytoskeleton, cytoplasm. Intracellular movements; Flagella - analysis; Flagella - ultrastructure; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fluorescent antibody techniques; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HeLa Cells; Humans; Immunologic Techniques; Lytechinus pictus; Male; Marine; Microscopy; Microtubule Proteins - physiology; Microtubules; Microtubules - analysis; Microtubules - ultrastructure; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular Weight; Patiria miniata; Sea Urchins; Sperm Tail - analysis; Sperm Tail - ultrastructure; Spermatozoa; Spermatozoa - analysis; Intermediary filament; Echinodermata; Flagellum; Echinoidea; Lytechinus pictus; Microtubule; Invertebrata; Axoneme; Centriole
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.85.8.2643

Affinity purified, polyclonal antibodies were prepared against three tektins (tektins A, B, and C) isolated from sea urchin sperm axonemal microtubules. These antibodies (anti-tektins) were used to localize tektins in axonemes, basal bodies, and centrioles. By immunofluorescence microscopy it could be demonstrated that in sperm tails from Lytechinus pictus all three anti-tektins stain all nine axonemal doublet microtubules and A-tubule extensions along their entire length. In addition to staining doublet microtubules, anti-tektin C weakly labeled the central-pair microtubules in sperm tails from Patiria miniata. The anti-tektin staining revealed also a clear cross-reaction with basal bodies of sea urchin sperm and with centrioles of cells from hamsters, humans, and pigs. These data provide evidence of tektin or tektin-like proteins in basal bodies and centrioles and suggest that centriole microtubules are constructed according to the same principles as flagellar microtubules.