Conditional expression of a truncated fragment of nonmuscle myosin II-A alters cell shape but not cytokinesis in HeLa cells

A truncated fragment of the nonmuscle myosin II-A heavy chain (NMHC II-A) lacking amino acids 1-591, delta N592, was used to examine the cellular functions of this protein. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was fused to the amino terminus of full-length human NMHC II-A, NMHC II-B, and delta N592 and the fusion proteins were stably expressed in HeLa cells by using a conditional expression system requiring absence of doxycycline. The HeLa cell line studied normally expressed only NMHC II-A and not NMHC II-B protein. Confocal microscopy indicated that the GFP fusion proteins of full-length NMHC II-A, II-B, and delta N592 were localized to stress fibers. However, in vitro assays showed that baculovirus-expressed delta N592 did not bind to actin, suggesting that delta N592 was localized to actin stress fibers through incorporation into endogenous myosin filaments. There was no evidence for the formation of heterodimers between the full-length endogenous nonmuscle myosin and truncated nonmuscle MHCs. Expression of delta N592, but not full-length NMHC II-A or NMHC II-B, induced cell rounding with rearrangement of actin filaments and disappearance of focal adhesions. These cells returned to their normal morphology when expression of delta N592 was repressed by addition of doxycycline. We also show that GFP-tagged full-length NMHC II-A or II-B, but not delta N592, were localized to the cytokinetic ring during mitosis, indicating that, in vertebrates, the amino-terminus part of mammalian nonmuscle myosin II may be necessary for localization to the cytokinetic ring.     

Increased expression of nonmuscle myosin IIs is associated with 3MC-induced mouse tumor

Administration of the chemical carcinogen, 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), in the hind leg induces the progressive formation of tumors in mice within 110 days. Previous reports suggest that transformation of muscle cells to atypical cells is one of the causes of tumor formation. Molecular events that lead to transformation of normal cells to atypical cells are not well understood. Here, we investigate the effect of 3MC on the expression of nonmuscle myosin IIs (NM IIs) which are known to be involved in cell migration, division and adhesion. Mass spectroscopy analysis reveals that tumor tissue contains 64.5% NM II-A, 34% II-B and only 1.5% II-C of total NM IIs, whereas these three isoforms of NM IIs are undetectable by mass spectroscopy in normal tissue associated with the tumor (NTAT) from the hind leg. Quantification of heavy chain mRNAs of NM II suggests that tumor tissue contains 25.7-fold and 19.03-fold more of NM II-A and II-B, respectively, compared with NTAT. Unlike NM II-B, which is detected only after tumor formation, II-A is detectable as early as day 7 after a second dose of 3MC. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy reveals that fibroblast cells which are sparsely distributed in normal tissue are densely populated but of atypical shape in the tumor. These findings suggest that transformation of fibroblasts or non-fibroblast cells to atypical, cancerous cells is associated with increased levels of NM II-A and NM II-B expression in the 3MC-induced tumor mouse model. 3MC-induced transformation is further demonstrated in C2C12 myotubes.     

Vertebrate nonmuscle myosin II isoforms rescue small interfering RNA-induced defects in COS-7 cell cytokinesis

RNA interference (RNAi) treatment of monkey COS-7 cells, a cell line that lacks nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-A (NMHC II-A) but contains NMHC II-B and II-C, was used to investigate the participation of NMHC isoforms in cytokinesis. We specifically suppressed the expression of NMHC II-B or II-C using 21 nucleotide small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes. Down-regulation of NMHC II-B protein expression to 10.2 +/- 0.7% inhibited COS-7 cell proliferation by 50% in the RNAi-treated cells compared with control cells. Moreover, whereas 8.7 +/- 1.0% of control cells were multinucleated, 62.4 +/- 8.8% of the NMHC II-B RNAi-treated cells were multinucleated 72 h after transfection. The RNAi-treated cells had increased surface areas and, unlike control cells, lacked actin stress fibers. Treatment of the COS-7 cells with NMHC II-C siRNA decreased NMHC II-C expression to 5.2 +/- 0.1% compared with the endogenous content of II-C; however, down-regulation of NMHC II-C did not cause increased multinucleation. Immunoblot analysis using a pan-myosin antibody showed that the content of NMHC II-C was less than one-twentieth the amount of NMHC II-B, thereby explaining the lack of response to II-C siRNA. Introducing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged NMHC II isoforms into II-B siRNA-treated cells resulted in reduction of multinucleation from 62.4 +/- 8.8% to 17.8 +/- 2.2% using GFP-NMHC II-B, to 29.8 +/- 7.4% using GFP-NMHC II-A, and to 34.1 +/- 8.6% using NMHC II-C-GFP. These studies have shown that expression of endogenous NMHC II-C in COS-7 cells is insufficient for normal cytokinesis and that exogenous NMHC II-A and NMHC II-C can, at least partially, rescue the defect in cytokinesis due to the loss of NMHC II-B.     

Replacement of nonmuscle myosin II-B with II-A rescues brain but not cardiac defects in mice

The purpose of these studies was to learn whether one isoform of nonmuscle myosin II, specifically nonmuscle myosin II-A, could functionally replace a second one, nonmuscle myosin II-B, in mice. To accomplish this, we used homologous recombination to ablate nonmuscle myosin heavy chain (NMHC) II-B by inserting cDNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP)-NMHC II-A into the first coding exon of the Myh10 gene, thereby placing GFP-NMHC II-A under control of the endogenous II-B promoter. Similar to B(-)/B(-) mice, most B(a*)/B(a*) mice died late in embryonic development with structural cardiac defects and impaired cytokinesis of the cardiac myocytes. However, unlike B(-)/B(-) mice, 15 B(a*)/B(a*) mice of 172 F2 generation mice survived embryonic lethality but developed a dilated cardiomyopathy as adults. Surprisingly none of the B(a*)/B(a*) mice showed evidence for hydrocephalus that is always found in B(-)/B(-) mice. Rescue of this defect was due to proper localization and function of GFP-NMHC II-A in place of NMHC II-B in a cell-cell adhesion complex in the cells lining the spinal canal. Restoration of the integrity and adhesion of these cells prevents protrusion of the underlying cells into the spinal canal where they block circulation of the cerebral spinal fluid. However, abnormal migration of facial and pontine neurons found in NMHC II-B mutant and ablated mice persisted in B(a*)/B(a*) mice. Thus, although NMHC II-A can substitute for NMHC II-B to maintain integrity of the spinal canal, NMHC II-B plays an isoform-specific role during cytokinesis in cardiac myocytes and in migration of the facial and pontine neurons.     

A specific isoform of nonmuscle myosin II-C is required for cytokinesis in a tumor cell line

Nonmuscle myosin IIs play an essential role during cytokinesis. Here, we explore the function of an alternatively spliced isoform of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain (NMHC) II-C, called NMHC II-C1, in the A549 human lung tumor cell line during cytokinesis. NMHC II-C1 contains an insert of 8 amino acids in the head region of NMHC II-C. First, we show that there is a marked increase in both the mRNA encoding NMHC II-C1 and protein in tumor cell lines compared with nontumor cell lines derived from the same tissue. Quantification of the amount of myosin II isoforms in the A549 cells shows that the amounts of NMHC II-A and II-C1 protein are about equal and substantially greater than NMHC II-B. Using specific siRNAs to decrease NMHC II-C1 in cultured A549 cells resulted in a 5.5-fold decrease in the number of cells at 120 h, whereas decreasing NMHC II-A with siRNA does not affect cell proliferation. This decreased proliferation can be rescued by reintroducing NMHC II-C1 but not NMHC II-A or II-B into A549 cells, although noninserted NMHC II-C does rescue to a limited extent. Time lapse video microscopy revealed that loss of NMHC II-C1 leads to a delay in cytokinesis and prolongs it from 2 to 8-10 h. These findings are consistent with the localization of NMHC II-C1 to the intercellular bridge that attaches the two dividing cells during the late phases of cytokinesis. The results suggest a specific function for NMHC II-C1 in cytokinesis in the A549 tumor cell line.     

Morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and myosin dynamics of mouse embryonic fibroblasts cultured on nanofibrillar surfaces

Growth of cells in tissue culture is generally performed on two-dimensional (2D) surfaces composed of polystyrene or glass. Recent work, however, has shown that such 2D cultures are incomplete and do not adequately represent the physical characteristics of native extracellular matrix (ECM)/basement membrane (BM), namely dimensionality, compliance, fibrillarity, and porosity. In the current study, a three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrillar surface composed of electrospun polyamide nanofibers was utilized to mimic the topology and physical structure of ECM/BM. Additional chemical cues were incorporated into the nanofibrillar matrix by coating the surfaces with fibronectin, collagen I, or laminin-1. Results from the current study show an enhanced response of primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to culture on nanofibrillar surfaces with more dramatic changes in cell spreading and reorganization of the cytoskeleton than previously observed for established cell lines. In addition, the cells cultured on nanofibrillar and 2D surfaces exhibited differential responses to the specific ECM/BM coatings. The localization and activity of myosin II-B for MEFs cultured on nanofibers was also compared. A dynamic redistribution of myosin II-B was observed within membrane protrusions. This was previously described for cells associated with nanofibers composed of collagen I but not for cells attached to 2D surfaces coated with monomeric collagen. These results provide further evidence that nanofibrillar surfaces offer a significantly different environment for cells than 2D substrates.     

Nonmuscle myosin II localizes to the Z-lines and intercalated discs of cardiac muscle and to the Z-lines of skeletal muscle

To understand the role of nonmuscle myosin II in cardiac and skeletal muscle, we used a number of polyclonal antibodies, three detecting nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-B (NMHC II-B) and two detecting NMHC II-A, to examine the localization of these two proteins in fresh-frozen, acetone-fixed sections of normal human and mouse hearts and human skeletal muscles. Results were similar in both species and were confirmed by examination of fresh-frozen sections of human hearts subjected to no fixation or to treatment with either 4% p-formaldehyde or 50% glycerol. NMHC II-B was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm of cardiac myocytes during development, but after birth it was localized to the Z-lines and intercalated discs. Dual labeling showed almost complete colocalization of NMHC II-B with alpha-actinin. Whereas endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts showed strong immunoreactivity for NMHC II-A and NMHC II-B, cardiac myocytes only showed reactivity for the latter. The Z-lines of human skeletal muscle cells, in contrast to those of cardiac myocytes, gave positive reactions for both NMHC II-A and NMHC II-B. The presence of a motor protein in the Z-lines and intercalated discs raises the possibility that these structures may play a more dynamic role in the contraction/relaxation mechanism of cardiac and skeletal muscle than has been previously suspected.     

Distinct and redundant roles of the non-muscle myosin II isoforms and functional domains

We propose that the in vivo functions of NM II (non-muscle myosin II) can be divided between those that depend on the N-terminal globular motor domain and those less dependent on motor activity but more dependent on the C-terminal domain. The former, being more dependent on the kinetic properties of NM II to translocate actin filaments, are less amenable to substitution by different NM II isoforms, whereas the in vivo functions of the latter, which involve the structural properties of NM II to cross-link actin filaments, are more amenable to substitution. In light of this hypothesis, we examine the ability of NM II-A, as well as a motor-compromised form of NM II-B, to replace NM II-B and rescue neuroepithelial cell-cell adhesion defects and hydrocephalus in the brain of NM II-B-depleted mice. We also examine the ability of NM II-B as well as chimaeric forms of NM II (II-A head and II-B tail and vice versa) to substitute for NM II-A in cell-cell adhesions in II-A-ablated mice. However, we also show that certain functions, such as neuronal cell migration in the developing brain and vascularization of the mouse embryo and placenta, specifically require NM II-B and II-A respectively.     

Rap1 activation in collagen phagocytosis is dependent on nonmuscle myosin II-A

Rap1 enhances integrin-mediated adhesion but the link between Rap1 activation and integrin function in collagen phagocytosis is not defined. Mass spectrometry of Rap1 immunoprecipitates showed that the association of Rap1 with nonmuscle myosin heavy-chain II-A (NMHC II-A) was enhanced by cell attachment to collagen beads. Rap1 colocalized with NM II-A at collagen bead-binding sites. There was a transient increase in myosin light-chain phosphorylation after collagen-bead binding that was dependent on myosin light-chain kinase but not Rho kinase. Inhibition of myosin light-chain phosphorylation, but not myosin II-A motor activity inhibited collagen-bead binding and Rap activation. In vitro binding assays demonstrated binding of Rap1A to filamentous myosin rods, and in situ staining of permeabilized cells showed that NM II-A filaments colocalized with F-actin at collagen bead sites. Knockdown of NM II-A did not affect talin, actin, or β1-integrin targeting to collagen beads but targeting of Rap1 and vinculin to collagen was inhibited. Conversely, knockdown of Rap1 did not affect localization of NM II-A to beads. We conclude that MLC phosphorylation in response to initial collagen-bead binding promotes NM II-A filament assembly; binding of Rap1 to myosin filaments enables Rap1-dependent integrin activation and enhanced collagen phagocytosis.     

Defects in cell adhesion and the visceral endoderm following ablation of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-A in mice

Previous work has shown that ablation or mutation of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-B (NMHC II-B) in mice results in defects in the heart and brain with death occurring between embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) and birth (Tullio, A. N., Accili, D., Ferrans, V. J., Yu, Z. X., Takeda, K., Grinberg, A., Westphal, H., Preston, Y. A., and Adelstein, R. S. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 94, 12407-12412). Here we show that mice ablated for NMHC II-A fail to develop a normal patterned embryo with a polarized visceral endoderm by E6.5 and die by E7.5. Moreover, A(-)/A(-) embryoid bodies grown in suspension culture constantly shed cells. These defects in cell adhesion and tissue organization are explained by loss of E-cadherin and beta-catenin localization to cell adhesion sites in both cell culture and in the intact embryos. The defects can be reproduced by introducing siRNA directed against NMHC II-A into wild-type embryonic stem cells. Our results suggest an essential role for a single, specific nonmuscle myosin isoform in maintaining cell-cell adhesions in the early mammalian embryo.     

The B2 alternatively spliced isoform of nonmuscle myosin II-B lacks actin-activated MgATPase activity and in vitro motility

We report the initial biochemical characterization of an alternatively spliced isoform of nonmuscle heavy meromyosin (HMM) II-B2 and compare it with HMM II-B0, the nonspliced isoform. HMM II-B2 is the HMM derivative of an alternatively spliced isoform of endogenous nonmuscle myosin (NM) II-B, which has 21-amino acids inserted into loop 2, near the actin-binding region. NM II-B2 is expressed in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum as well as in other neuronal cells [X. Ma, S. Kawamoto, J. Uribe, R.S. Adelstein, Function of the neuron-specific alternatively spliced isoforms of nonmuscle myosin II-B during mouse brain development, Mol. Biol. Cell 15 (2006) 2138-2149]. In contrast to any of the previously described isoforms of NM II (II-A, II-B0, II-B1, II-C0 and II-C1) or to smooth muscle myosin, the actin-activated MgATPase activity of HMM II-B2 is not significantly increased from a low, basal level by phosphorylation of the 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC-20). Moreover, although HMM II-B2 can bind to actin in the absence of ATP and is released in its presence, it cannot propel actin in the sliding actin filament assay following MLC-20 phosphorylation. Unlike HMM II-B2, the actin-activated MgATPase activity of a chimeric HMM with the 21-amino acid II-B2 sequence inserted into the homologous location in the heavy chain of HMM II-C is increased following MLC-20 phosphorylation. This indicates that the effect of the II-B2 insert is myosin heavy chain specific.     

Correlation between the clinical phenotype of MYH9-related disease and tissue distribution of class II nonmuscle myosin heavy chains

Nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-A is responsible for MYH9-related disease, which is characterized by macrothrombocytopenia, granulocyte inclusions, deafness, cataracts, and renal failure. Since another two highly conserved nonmuscle myosins, II-B and II-C, are known, an analysis of their tissue distribution is fundamental for the understanding of their biological roles. In mouse, we found that all forms are ubiquitously expressed. However, megakaryocytic and granulocytic lineages express only II-A, suggesting that congenital features, macrothrombocytopenia, and leukocyte inclusions correlate with its exclusive presence. In kidney, eye, and ear, where clinical manifestations have a late onset, as well as in other tissues apparently not affected in patients, II-A and at least one of the other two isoforms are expressed, suggesting that II-B and II-C can partially compensate for each other. We hypothesize that cells expressing only II-A manifest the congenital defects, while tissues expressing additional myosin II isoforms show either late onset of abnormalities or no pathological sign.     

Identification and characterization of nonmuscle myosin II-C, a new member of the myosin II family

A previously unrecognized nonmuscle myosin II heavy chain (NMHC II), which constitutes a distinct branch of the nonmuscle/smooth muscle myosin II family, has recently been revealed in genome data bases. We characterized the biochemical properties and expression patterns of this myosin. Using nucleotide probes and affinity-purified antibodies, we found that the distribution of NMHC II-C mRNA and protein (MYH14) is widespread in human and mouse organs but is quantitatively and qualitatively distinct from NMHC II-A and II-B. In contrast to NMHC II-A and II-B, the mRNA level in human fetal tissues is substantially lower than in adult tissues. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed distinct patterns of expression for all three NMHC isoforms. NMHC II-C contains an alternatively spliced exon of 24 nucleotides in loop I at a location analogous to where a spliced exon appears in NMHC II-B and in the smooth muscle myosin heavy chain. However, unlike neuron-specific expression of the NMHC II-B insert, the NMHC II-C inserted isoform has widespread tissue distribution. Baculovirus expression of noninserted and inserted NMHC II-C heavy meromyosin (HMM II-C/HMM II-C1) resulted in significant quantities of expressed protein (mg of protein) for HMM II-C1 but not for HMM II-C. Functional characterization of HMM II-C1 by actin-activated MgATPase activity demonstrated a V(max) of 0.55 + 0.18 s(-1), which was half-maximally activated at an actin concentration of 16.5 + 7.2 microm. HMM II-C1 translocated actin filaments at a rate of 0.05 + 0.011 microm/s in the absence of tropomyosin and at 0.072 + 0.019 microm/s in the presence of tropomyosin in an in vitro motility assay.     

Morphological characterization of tendon development during chick embryogenesis: measurement of birefringence retardation

Morphological observations and physical measurement of (I) birefringence retardation, (2) mean fibre profile width, and (3) cell volume fraction were used to characterize chick hind limb extensor tendon development. Observations were made at days 7, 10, 14 and 17 embryologic and 1-1.5 post-hatching. Microanatomical observations illustrated a sequential development of tendon microanatomy consisting of (1) a uniaxial cellular framework with discontinuous collagen fibril bundles present in day 7 embryos; (2) a continuous network of birefringent collagen fibres, and early evidence of tendon fasciculation and crimp development by embryonic day 10; and (3) completion of the basic cytoarchitecture of tendon observed at day 14 of embryogenesis. These observations suggest that collagen deposition in tendon involves first a longitudinal and then a lateral organization of tendon fibroblasts. Associated with the progressive anatomical development of tendon was an increase in birefringence retardation, mean collagen fibre profile width, and a decrease in the cell volume fraction. Birefringence retardation per unit thickness, however, did not change. This suggested that the fibril packing density of the fibres remained constant, although the fibres were observed to increase in size. These results indicate that collagen fibrillogenesis in vivo can be quantitatively studied by measurement of the birefringence retardation using polarized light.     

Formation and movement of myosin-containing structures in living fibroblasts

Gizzard myosin, fluorescently labeled with tetramethylrhodamine iodoacetamide, was microinjected into living 3T3 fibroblasts to label myosin-containing structures. The fluorophore was located predominantly on the heavy chain near the COOH terminus of the S1 head and on the 17-kD light chain. After microinjection of a tracer amount into living 3T3 cells, the fluorescent myosin showed a distribution identical to that revealed by immunofluorescence with antimyosin antibodies. Injected myosin became localized in small beads, which were found along large stress fibers, along fine fibers, and in a poorly organized form near the lamellipodia. De novo assembly of beads was observed continuously within or near the lamellipodia, suggesting that myosin molecules may undergo a constant cycling between polymerized and unpolymerized states. The nascent structures then moved away from lamellipodia and became organized into linear arrays. Similar movement was also observed for beads already associated with linear structures, and may represent a continuous flux of myosin structures. The dynamic reorganization of myosin may play an important role in cell movement and polarity.     

p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) regulates cell motility in mammalian fibroblasts.

The p21 (Cdc42/Rac) activated kinase Pak1 regulates cell morphology and polarity in most, if not all, eukaryotic cells. We and others have established that Pak's effects on these parameters are mediated by changes in the organization of cortical actin. Because cell motility requires polarized rearrangements of the actin/myosin cytoskeleton, we examined the role of Pak1 in regulating cell movement. We established clonal tetracycline-regulated NIH-3T3 cell lines that inducibly express either wild-type Pak1, a kinase-dead, or constitutively-active forms of this enzyme, and examined the morphology, F-actin organization, and motility of these cells. Expression of any of these forms of Pak1 induced dramatic changes in actin organization which were not inhibited by coexpression of a dominant-negative form of Rac1. Cells inducibly expressing wild-type or constitutively-active Pak1 had large, polarized lamellipodia at the leading edge, were more motile than their normal counterparts when plated on a fibronectin-coated surface, and displayed enhanced directional movement in response to an immobilized collagen gradient. In contrast, cells expressing a kinase-dead form of Pak1 projected multiple lamellipodia emerging from different parts of the cell simultaneously. These cells, though highly motile, displayed reduced persistence of movement when plated on a fibronectin-coated surface and had defects in directed motility toward immobilized collagen. Expression of constitutively activated Pak1 was accompanied by increased myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, whereas expression of kinase-dead Pak1 had no effect on MLC. These results suggest that Pak1 affects the phosphorylation state of MLC, thus linking this kinase to a molecule that directly affects cell movement.     

Disease-associated mutations and alternative splicing alter the enzymatic and motile activity of nonmuscle myosins II-B and II-C

Human families with single amino acid mutations in nonmuscle myosin heavy chain (NMHC) II-A (MYH9) and II-C (MYH14) have been described as have mice generated with a point mutation in NMHC II-B (MYH10). These mutations (R702C and N93K in human NMHC II-A, R709C in murine NMHC II-B, and R726S in human NMHC II-C) result in phenotypes affecting kidneys, platelets, and leukocytes (II-A), heart and brain (II-B), and the inner ear (II-C). To better understand the mechanisms underlying these defects, we characterized the in vitro activity of mutated and wild-type baculovirus-expressed heavy meromyosin (HMM) II-B and II-C. We also expressed two alternatively spliced isoforms of NMHC II-C which differ by inclusion/exclusion of eight amino acids in loop 1, with and without mutations. Comparison of the actin-activated MgATPase activity and in vitro motility shows that mutation of residues Asn-97 and Arg-709 in HMM II-B and the homologous residue Arg-722 (Arg-730 in the alternatively spliced isoform) in HMM II-C decreases both parameters but affects in vitro motility more severely. Analysis of the transient kinetics of the HMM II-B R709C mutant shows an extremely tight affinity of HMM for ADP and a very slow release of ADP from acto-HMM. Although mutations generally decreased HMM activity, the R730S mutation in HMM II-C, unlike the R730C mutation, had no effect on actin-activated MgATPase activity but decreased the rate of in vitro motility by 75% compared with wild type. Insertion of eight amino acids into the HMM II-C heavy chain increases both actin-activated MgATPase activity and in vitro motility.     

Enzymatic studies on a cellulase system of Trichoderma viride. III. Transglycosylation properties of two cellulase components of random type.

Two highly purified cellulases [EC 3.2.1.4], II-A, and II-B, were obtained from the cellulase system of Trichoderma viride. Both cellulases split cellopentaose retaining the beta-configuration of the anomeric carbon atoms in the hydrolysis products at both pH 3.5 and 5.0. The Km values of cellulases II-A and II-B for cellotetraose were different, but their Vmax values were similar and those for cellooligosaccharides increased in parallel with chain length. Both cellulases produced predominantly cellobiose and glucose from various cellulosic substrates as well as from higher cellooligosaccharides. Cellulase II-A preferentially attacked the holoside linkage of rho-nitrophenyl beta-D-cellobioside, whereas cellulase II-B attacked mainly the aglycone linkage of this cellobioside. Both cellulases were found to catalyze the synthesis of cellotriose from rho-nitrophenyl beta-D-cellobioside by transfer of a glucosyl residue, possibly to cellobiose produced in the reaction mixture. They were also found to catalyze the rapid synthesis of cellotetraose from cellobiose, with accompanying formation of cellotriose and glucose, which seemed to be produced by secondary random hydrolysis of the cellotetraose produced. The capacity to synthesize cellotetraose from cellobiose appeared to be greater with cellulase II-B than with cellulase II-A.