Astrocytic cerebellar cell clones synthesize the beta' isoforms of the beta-tubulin protein family.
We have analysed the isotubulin pattern of three astrocytic cell clones, derived from spontaneously established permanent cell cultures originating from 8-day postnatal mice cerebellar explants, in comparison with that of primary astroglial cultures from embryonic brain and cerebellum. These astrocytic clones, which may represent the different astroglial cell types of mouse cerebellum, did not produce the alpha- and beta-acidic isoforms, these being found only in cells of neuronal lineage. However, the three astrocytic clones, but not the primary astroglial cultures, did synthesize the beta'-tubulin isoforms; in addition quantitative analysis of the beta' proteins showed a positive correlation between the ability of the cells to extend processes and their synthesis of the beta' isoforms. These data suggest that the presence of beta'-tubulin is not specific for neuronal cells but may be related to the ability of cells from the nervous system to extend processes.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum; D002999:Clone Cells; D003342:Corpus Striatum; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D051379:Mice; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D014404:Tubulin