Monoclonal antibodies to synaptic macromolecules of Drosophila melanogaster.

We have obtained monoclonal antibodies to Drosophila acetylcholinesterase, glutamate dehydrogenase as well as other unknown macromolecules which may have some relevance in synaptic function. The majority of antibodies against acetylcholinesterase recognised common epitopes on all four subunits--but one (MA2) was specific to a 110 kDa dimer. Antibodies to unknown synaptic macromolecules were identified by their selective staining in immunofluorescence studies. F2A3 stains sensory neurons and their synapses in the visual and olfactory systems.