INSECT MUCIN-TYPE GLYCOPROTEIN - IMMUNODETECTION OF THE O-GLYCOSYLATED EPITOPE IN DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER CELLS AND TISSUES

A mucin-type glycoprotein (GP) from cultured embryonic cells of Drosop hila melanogaster was isolated and used to raise monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Epitope(s) recognized by MAbs were sensitive to the treatment by O-glycanase, which specifically cleaves off O-linked mucin-type Ga l(beta 1,3)GalNAc disaccharide, representing the major part of the car bohydrate moiety of Drosophila GP, Using high-affinity MAbs against ca rbohydrate epitopes of the Drosophila mucin GP we demonstrated its acc umulation in culture medium, as well as in cultured cells, which prove d to be regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone, Mucin GPs carrying Gal(beta 1 ,3)GalNAc disaccharide recognized by the MAbs were immunochemically lo calized in several Drosophila tissues of ectodermal, mesodermal and ge rm line origin, including epidermal and follicle cells capable of thei r secretion, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.