Abstract
Four polypeptides (tetrins I-IV) have been isolated from the ciliated protozoan Tetrahvmena pyriformis. These polypeptides assemble in vitro into 3-4 nm filaments identical with those present in abundance in a cytoskeletal framework associated with the feeding organelle system (oral apparatus) of this cell type. The polypeptides ranging in molecular weights from 79-89 kDa are not similar to each other in either biochemical or immunological properties. In vivo, the filaments are organized into higher order structures described as cages, cables, and networks. The specific hypothesis arises that the alternate packing arrangements may correlate with different distributions of the individual tetrin polypeptides. We report the production of monoclonal antibodies for each tetrin polypeptide, and the determination of the location of each within the cell using confocal microscopy and immunogold-silver enhancement procedures in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Cell samples for confocal microscopy were labelled according to conventional immunofluorescent procedures and examined with a Bio-Rad MRC-600 laser scanning confocal microscope.
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