PMID: 6540269Mar 1, 1984Paper

Activity and stability of centrosomes in Chinese hamster ovary cells in nucleation of microtubules in vitro

Journal of Cell Science
R Kuriyama

Abstract

Mitotic centrosomes were prepared from Chinese hamster ovary cells and their capacity to nucleate microtubules in vitro was demonstrated by incubation with exogenous brain microtubule protein. The number of microtubules polymerized onto centrosomes was directly counted by electron microscopy of whole-mount preparations. This simple and accurate quantitative assay has permitted characterization of the microtubule nucleating activity of centrosomes in vitro. The number of microtubules polymerized onto centrosomes varied according to the structure of the centrosome. The activity was roughly proportional to the centriole number. The number and length of microtubules nucleated by centrosomes depended both on the concentration of tubulin and the incubation time with tubulin. Under saturating conditions, an average of 200-250 microtubules were initiated by single centrosomes. Centrosomal activity is unstable (t 1/2 = 8 h) and could easily be irreversibly disrupted by a medium of high ionic strength. The activity is stabilized by the addition of glycerol. Centrosomes can be stored at -80 degrees C. The optimum pH for microtubule nucleation is 6.8. Activity is sensitive to protease digestion, but neither DNase or RNase affected the nucl...Continue Reading

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