Making and using antibody probes to study plant cell walls

The cell wall is a structurally complex and highly varied domain at the surface 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 maintenance of plant form. The molecular architecture of plant cell walls is based to a large extent on carbohydrates and phenolics. Technologies for direct functional analyses of these often multi-functional components are not readily available and thus defined antibodies are powerful tools to gain insight into the spatial and developmental aspects of cell wall structure and function. This review discusses aspects of monoclonal antibody preparation, including phage display technology. The challenges of making defined antibodies relevant to plant cell walls are discussed along with current and future requirements for antibodies. The use of defined antibodies is discussed in the context of a range of approaches and techniques that demonstrate the important contribution that antibodies can make to the understanding of cell wall structure, organisation, developmental dynamics and function.