Immunolocalization Studies of the High-sulfur Protein Fraction of Merino Wool using Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies raised to the high-sulfur fraction of solubilized wool protein were used to study the location of these proteins in sections of Merino sheep skin, using indirect immunofluorescence. Poor antibody binding was observed to untreated wool follicles, but mild trypsin digestion of the sections allowed penetration of the antibodies and specific antibody localization was observed. The high-sulfur protein monoclonal antibodies bound to the cells of the wool cortex in the keratogenous zone, and to the cells of the inner root sheath and fibre cuticle regions. The specificities of the antibodies were determined by their binding to high-sulfur proteins separated using high-performance liquid chromatography.