Monoclonal antibodies against cell-surface antigens of developing cells of Myxococcus xanthus.

Monoclonal antibodies (MCA) have been developed against cell surface antigens (CSA) of Myxococcus xanthus undergoing fruiting body formation. Three of these antibodies are directed against CSA which increase during development, six against CSA which decrease and three against CSA which show no change during development. Western-type immunoblots have been done to determine the molecular weights of the CSA to which the various MCA bind. Various applications of these MCA to the study of myxobacterial cell interactions are discussed.