Acetylated and detyrosinated alpha-tubulins are co-localized in stable microtubules in rat meningeal fibroblasts.
We have examined the distribution of acetylated alpha-tubulin using immunofluorescence microscopy in fibroblastic cells of rat brain meninges. Meningeal fibroblasts showed heterogeneous staining patterns with a monoclonal antibody against acetylated alpha-tubulin ranging from staining of primary cilia or microtubule-organising centers (MTOCs) alone to extensive microtubule networks. Staining with a broad spectrum anti-alpha-tubulin monoclonal indicated that all cells possessed cytoplasmic microtubule networks. From double-labeling experiments using an antibody against acetylated alpha-tubulin (6-11B-1) and antibodies against either tyrosinated or detyrosinated alpha-tubulin, it was found that acetylated alpha-tubulin and tyrosinated alpha-tubulin were often segregated to different microtubules. The microtubules containing acetylated but not tyrosinated alpha-tubulin were cold stable. Therefore, it appeared that in general meningeal cells possessed two subset of microtubules: One subset contained detyrosinated and acetylated alpha-tubulin and was cold stable, and the other contained tyrosinated alpha-tubulin and was cold labile. These results are consistent with the idea that acetylation and detyrosination of alpha-tubulin are involved in the specification of stable microtubules.
Cambray-Deakin
M A
MA
Physiological Laboratory, University of Liverpool, England.
Burgoyne
R D
RD
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004355:Drug Stability; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008578:Meninges / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D014404:Tubulin / Q000032:analysis*; D014443:Tyrosine
D014404:Tubulin; D014443:Tyrosine