Making and using antibody probes to study plant cell walls

The cell wall is a structurally complex and highly varied domain at the sur face of all plant cells. Emerging knowledge of the dynamic molecular nature of cell walls and their possible participation in developmental processes has increased awareness of their contribution to the creation and maintenan ce of plant form. The molecular architecture of plant cell walls is based t o a large extent on carbohydrates and phenolics. Technologies for direct fu nctional analyses of these often multi-functional components are not readil y available and thus defined antibodies are powerful tools to gain insight into the spatial and developmental aspects of cell wall structure and funct ion. This review discusses aspects of monoclonal antibody preparation, incl uding phage display technology. The challenges of making defined antibodies relevant to plant cell walls are discussed along with current and future r equirements for antibodies. The use of defined antibodies is discussed in t he context of a range of approaches and techniques that demonstrate the imp ortant contribution that antibodies can make to the understanding of cell w all structure, organisation, developmental dynamics and function. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.