title: Cell attachment and neurite stability in NG108-15 cells: what is the role of microtubules?
abstract: Undifferentiated NG108-15 cells forming rapid-onset neurites were acutely exposed to nocodazole or trypsin. Resorption, cell rounding and detachment were delayed or prevented by 5'-deoxy,5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA), which selectively enhanced the strength of attachment responses. However, taxol, which stabilized microtubules, did not protect cell shape appreciably when trypsin or mechanical stimuli were used to decrease the strength of attachment. Together with numerous control experiments, this evidence suggests that the mechanical properties of microtubules do not contribute acutely to maintaining cell shape, though microtubules may play an indirect regulatory role (e.g. through their interactions with actin and substratum attachment sites). Patterns of trypsin-induced resorption resembled those seen 'spontaneously' in NG108-15 cells growing on laminin, and in fibroblastic CHO cells, suggesting that these results may be both physiologically relevant and applicable widely to many cell types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, IL 60637.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Smalheiser
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D017239:Paclitaxel; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013872:Thionucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D013872:Thionucleosides; D014404:Tubulin; C008500:5'-methylthioadenosine; D014357:Trypsin; D000241:Adenosine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D015739:Nocodazole