Mapping of Epitopes of the Recombinant Movement Protein of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus with the Use of Monoclonal Antibodies

The movement protein (MP) of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) provides the intercellular transport of the viral RNA through plasmodesmata. MP fulfils its function while interacting with host cell factors on the whole way of its intracellular movement from the subcellular site of its synthesis to the plasmodesmata of cellular walls. The MP conformation during its intracellular movement and fulfilling the transport function still remains unknown. In this study, we describe the preparation of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAs) to TMV MP and mapping of the MP epitopes. Stable hybridoma lines that produce MAs to the partially denatured recombinant MP (MP sub(r)) were obtained. MAs were tested by the immunoblotting and ELISA with the use of deletion variations of MP sub(r). The epitopes of TMV MP sub(r) that recognize specific MAs were determined.