IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE DETECTION OF F-ACTIN ON LOW-MELTING POINT WAX SECTIONS FROM PLANT-TISSUES

We developed a simple and reliable technique for immunofluorescence de tection of F-actin on microtome sections of plant tissues. For the fir st time, large numbers of plant cells from various tissues that pass t hrough their developmental stages could be consistently visualized on one section from plant organs. n-Maleimidobenzoic acid N-hydroxysuccin imide ester-pretreated and formalin-fixed segments of plant roots and shoots were embedded in low melting point ester wax at 37C and section ed on a microtome. After dewaxing and rehydration, microfilaments were visualized by indirect immunofluorescence technique with a monoclonal anti-actin antibody. The technique has been successfully used for vis ualization of tissue- and development-specific F-actin arrays in cells of Zea mays and Lepidium sativum root tips and of maize stem nodes.