A novel monoclonal antibody that recognizes apical membrane of frog taste cells

We established a hybridoma clone 1N1 that produced a monoclonal antibody to stain the apical portion of frog taste cells, by directly immunizing taste discs of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) without any dispersion procedure of the taste organ. The antibody stained discrete regions on the surface of the taste discs, but did not stain the epithelium sheet of the tongue devo id of taste discs. The antibody stained similar to 93% of the taste discs t ested (172/184) derived from nine frogs, showing that distribution of the a ntigen was common to most of the taste discs. The following observations st rongly suggested that the antibody recognized a certain antigen on the apic al membrane of the taste cells. (i) The antibody selectively stained cross points of intermucus areas on the surface of the taste disc. Neither the mu cus cells nor the wing cells that mainly cover the surface were stained wit h the antibody. (ii) Dispersed taste cells were prepared by calcium ion che lating and subsequently by collagenase treatment to avoid digestion of the antigen. The antibody stained the apical end of the taste cells.