Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies as Probes of Plant Microtubule- Associated Proteins

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9415479 Morejohn This is a Small Grant for Exploratory Research. The project is a fishing expedition for microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in plants, using a high-risk, innovative approach based on the production of anti-idiotypic antibodies as reagents for identifying putative MAPs. %%% In animal systems, a lot is known about microtubule- associated proteins (MAPs), in terms of both protein structure and functions. These MAPs play critical roles in stabilizing microtubules and regulating the assembly and disassembly of microtubules. In plants, a generally accepted identification of any MAP has not yet been achieved. Since microtubules play critical roles in the fundamental life processes of plant cells, and since they are the targets of action of an important class of herbicides, there is compelling reason to increase our understanding of microtubule structure and function in plants, including the identification of MAPs. This project is a high-risk but plausible approach to the identification of plant MAPs. ***