Functions of motor proteins in echinoderm embryos: An argument in support of antibody inhibition experiments

Abstract

Antibody inhibition experiments are proving to be extremely valuable in probing the in vivo functions of actin- and microtubule-based motor proteins in the early development of echinoderm embryos, despite some skepticism among many cell biologists concerning the reliability of this approach. Antibody inhibition has revealed that motor proteins participate in diverse events during early echinoderm development, including mitosis, cytokinesis, the transport of exocytotic vesicles, and the assembly of motile cilia.