Microtubules rich in modified α-tubulin characterize the tail processes of motile fibroblasts

摘要: The organisation of microtubules rich in post-transiationaily modified α-tubulin has been investigated in a fibroblast cell line (NIH–3T3–T15) that can be reversibly transformed. An immunofluorescence microscopy study of the static non-trans-formed cells has revealed a central distribution of wavy microtubules showing post-translational modifications. When transformed there is a marked increase in cell motility and the appearance of long thin cytoplasmic ‘tails’. These tails have been found to contain conspicuous bundles of post-trans-lationally modified microtubules that run down the length of the processes and terminate close to the plasmalemma. Both detyrosinated and acetylated α-tubulin are present as major species in these modified microtubules. Such a pattern of modified microtubules is only occasionally seen in the untransformed NIH–3T3–T15 cells. We have also found them to be present in other …