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Regular Article |
-Tubulin1
a Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
ABSTRACT
In the testis, microtubule-disrupting agents cause breakdown of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton and sloughing of germ cells with associated Sertoli cell fragments, although the mechanism underlying this event is not understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of carbendazim and colchicine on microtubule polymerization status and posttranslational modifications of tubulin in freshly isolated rat seminiferous tubules. Soluble and polymerized tubulin pools were separated and tubulin was quantified using a competitive ELISA. Carbendazim and colchicine caused extensive microtubule depolymerization, shifting the ratio of soluble to polymerized tubulin from 40%:60% to 78%:22%, and to 84%:16%, respectively. Total tubulin levels remained relatively constant after carbendazim treatment but decreased twofold after colchicine treatment. To determine if modifications to tubulin may be associated with polymerization status, tubulin pools were analyzed by immunoblotting. Acetylated
-tubulin and ßIII-tubulin distribution in tubulin pools was not affected by treatment. Tyrosinated -tubulin (52 kDa) was localized in both tubulin pools and had decreased tyrosination in the microtubule pool after carbendazim treatment. A 47-kDa protein immunoreactive with both tyrosinated -tubulin and general -tubulin antibodies was found only in the microtubule pool. The 47-kDa protein (potentially an -tubulin isoform) lost tyrosination, yet was still present in the microtubule pool based on detection with the general -tubulin antibody, after carbendazim treatment. Similar effects were seen with colchicine, although loss of total tubulin protein was measured. Thus, decreased tyrosination of the microtubule pool of tubulin appears to be associated with depolymerization of microtubules.
First decision: 21 November 2000.
1 This work was supported by NIH grants RO1 ESO 7832 and PO1 ESO 5707 (Center for Environmental Health Science).
2 Correspondence: Liane M. Correa, Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616. FAX: 530 752 3394; lmcorrea{at}ucdavis.edu
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