A new tool for plant cell biology: in vivo antibody uptake in plant protoplasts

Christian Brière (1) , Henri Barthou (2) , Michel Petitprez (2)

1 SCSV - Surfaces Cellulaires et Signalisation chez les Végétaux
2 BAP - Biotechnologie et Amélioration des Plantes

We report on the in vivo uptake of antibodies into plant protoplasts. When protoplasts of sunflower, Arabidopsis or tobacco were incubated in vivo with an antibody, this antibody was detected by immunofluorescence in the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus, depending on the location of the target protein. Furthermore, when protoplasts were cultured in the presence of antibodies, specific effects were observed. Incubation with antibodies raised against p34cdc2 led to a strong inhibition of the division rate, and a decrease in the average DNA content of protoplasts. With antibodies against HaWLIM1, a LIM domain protein of the CRP type, a negative effect on actin organisation was observed. We conclude that antibodies can penetrate plant protoplasts in vivo, and thus may be used as powerful tools for the study of protein function.

Mots clés: Plant protoplasts; Antibody uptake; · Protein function

Domaines: Biologie cellulaire

Christian Brière, Henri Barthou, Michel Petitprez. A new tool for plant cell biology: in vivo antibody uptake in plant protoplasts. Plant Cell Reports, 2004, 22, pp.878-884. ⟨10.1007/s00299-004-0788-9⟩. ⟨hal-00023082⟩