Rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) is a structurally complex, low molecular weight pectic polysaccharide that is released from primary cell walls of higher plants by treatment with endopolygalacturonase and is chromatographically purified after alkaline deesterification. A recombinant monovalent antibody fragment (Fab) that specifically recognizes RG-II has been obtained by selection from a phage display library of mouse immunoglobulin genes. By itself, RG-II is not immunogenic. Therefore, mice were immunized with a neoglycoprotein prepared by covalent attachment of RG-II to modified BSA. A cDNA library of the mouse IgG1/kappa antibody repertoire was constructed in the phage display vector pComb3. Selection of antigen-binding phage particles resulted in the isolation of an antibody Fab, CCRC-R1, that binds alkali-treated RG-II with high specificity. CCRC-R1 binds an epitope found primarily at sites proximal to the plasma membrane of suspension-cultured sycamore maple cells. In cells deesterified by alkali, CCRC-R1 labels the entire wall, suggesting that the RG-II epitope recognized by CCRC-R1 is masked by esterification in most of the wall and tha such RG-II esterification is absent near the plasma membrane.