Receptor-mediated gonadotropin action in the ovary. Action of cytoskeletal element-disrupting agents on gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis in rat luteal cells.

The role of the cellular cytoskeletal system of microtubules and microfilaments on gonadotropin-stimulated progesterone production by isolated rat luteal cells has been investigated. Exposure of luteal cells to human choriogonadotropin resulted in a stimulation of cyclic AMP (4-7-fold) and progesterone (3-4-fold) responses.l Incubation of cells with the microfilament modifier cytochalasin B inhibited the gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The effect of cytochalasin B on basal production of steroid was less pronounced. Cytochalasin B also inhibited the accumulation of progesterone in response to lutropin, cholera enterotoxin, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and 8-bromo cyclic AMP. The inhibition of steroidogenesis by cytochalasin B was not due to (a) inhibition of 125I-labelled human choriogonadotropin binding to luteal cells, (b) inhibition of gonadotropin-stimulated cyclic AMP formation or (c) a general cytotoxic effect and/or inhibition of protein biosynthesis. Cytochalasin D, like cytochalasin B, inhibited gonadotropin- and 8-bromo cyclic AMP-stimulated steroidogenesis. Although cytochalasin B also blocked the transport of 3-O-methyl-glucose into luteal cells, cytochalasin D was without such an effect. Increasing glucose concentration in the medium, or using pyruvate as an alternative energy source, failed to reverse the inhibitory effect of cytochalasin B. The anti-microtubular agent colchicine failed to modulate synthesis and release of progesterone by luteal cells in response to human choriogonadotropin. These studies suggest that the cellular microfilaments may be involved in the regulation of gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis. In contrast, microtubules appear to be not directly involved in this process.     

Actin microfilaments facilitate the retrograde transport from the Golgi complex to the endoplasmic reticulum in mammalian cells

The morphology and subcellular positioning of the Golgi complex depend on both microtubule and actin cytoskeletons. In contrast to microtubules, the role of actin cytoskeleton in the secretory pathway in mammalian cells has not been clearly established. Using cytochalasin D, we have previously shown that microfilaments are not involved in the endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi membrane dynamics. However, it has been reported that, unlike botulinum C2 toxin and latrunculins, cytochalasin D does not produce net depolymerization of actin filaments. Therefore, we have reassessed the functional role of actin microfilaments in the early steps of the biosynthetic pathway using C2 toxin and latrunculin B. The anterograde endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport monitored with the vesicular stomatitis virus-G protein remained unaltered in cells treated with cytochalasin D, latrunculin B or C2 toxin. Conversely, the brefeldin A-induced Golgi membrane fusion into the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi-to-endoplasmic reticulum transport of a Shiga toxin mutant form, and the subcellular distribution of the KDEL receptor were all impaired when actin microfilaments were depolymerized by latrunculin B or C2 toxin. These findings, together with the fact that COPI-coated and uncoated vesicles contain β/γ-actin isoforms, indicate that actin microfilaments are involved in the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi interface, facilitating the retrograde Golgi-to-endoplasmic reticulum membrane transport, which could be mediated by the orchestrated movement of transport intermediates along microtubule and microfilament tracks.     

Inhibition of DNA synthesis in adrenocortical cells by cytochalasin B

ACTH inhibits DNA synthesis in normal rat and mouse tumor Y-1 adrenocortical cells within the same concentration range that it stimulates steroidogenesis. These processes can be independently regulated as demonstrated by the divergent actions of cytochalasin B on these cells. In the normal cells, cytochalasin B does not increase steroidogenesis in serum-free or serum-containing media, and it decreases the stimulation produced by ACTH. In the absence of serum, the Y-1 cells respond in a similar way. However, in serum-containing media, cytochalasin B increases steroidogenesis in these cells and does not inhibit the response to ACTH. In both cell types, cytochalasin B inhibits [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by a mechanism different than that of ACTH. In the Y-1 cells, this inhibition is caused by a decreased uptake of [3H]thymidine into the cell, which probably reflects a decreased transport across the cell membrane. In the normal cells, cytochalasin B, like ACTH, does not affect [3H]thymidine transport, but it decreases DNA synthesis much more rapidly than does ACTH. This inhibition may be the result of the disruption of microfilaments by cytochalasinB, because our evidence indicates that it is not caused by a decrease in glucose uptake by the cells.     

Effects of cytochalasin B and colchicine on attachment of a major surface protein of fibroblasts

We have investigated the effects of the drugs cytochalasin B and colchicine on the surface levels of the large, external, transformation-sensitive (LETS) glycoprotein. Colchicine neither removed LETS protein from the surface, nor inhibited its regeneration after removal by mild trypsinization. Cells treated with cytochalasin B, however, showed both a 2–3-fold increase in the turnover rate of their surface LETS protein and a marked inhibition in its regeneration. Inhibition of regeneration was not due to inhibition of synthesis or transport to the surface. In fact, in the presence of cytochalasin B, increased quantities of LETS protein were released into the medium. The results are consistent with the idea of an association of LETS protein with the actin-containing microfilaments. However, other possible explanations, such as effects on cellular morphology or on transport of sugar precursors cannot yet be excluded.     

Effects of four agents that modify microtubules and microfilaments (vinblastine,colchicine, lidocaine,and cytochalasin B) on macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity to tumor cells

Summary The effects of vinblastine, colchicine, lidocaine, and cytochalasin B on tumor cell killing by BCG-activated macrophages were examined. These four drugs were selected for their action on membrane-associated cytoskeletal components, microtubules, and microfilaments. Colchicine and vinblastine, which block microtubular synthesis, inhibit macrophage-mediated tumor-cell cytotoxicity at a concentration of 10^–6 M. Cytochalasin B, which disrupts microfilaments, enhances tumor cell lysis and stasis due to activated macrophages at a concentration of 10^–7 M. Lidocaine, which may induce the disappearance of both microtubules and microfilaments, has the same inhibiting effect as vinblastine at a concentration of 5×10^–7 M. Whereas vinblastine and lidocaine seem to act on the macrophage itself, cytochalasin B exerts its effect predominantly on the tumor cell. These results suggest that microtubules and microfilaments play a role in the destruction of tumor cells by activated macrophages.     

PKB phosphorylation and survivin expression are cooperatively regulated by disruption of microfilament cytoskeleton

Changes in cell shape can lead to detachment and cell death, and the disruption in the actin cytoskeletal network, as one marker of cell shape changes, can itself induce apoptosis. In this study, the effects of cytochalasin B on the apoptosis-related proteins, protein kinase B and survivin were investigated. Apoptosis induced by disruption of microfilaments with cytochalasin B was found, although it happened at a low level, to simultaneously occur with G2/M arrest in 50% of the cytochalasin B-treated cells. During apoptosis, PKB phosphorylation and survivin expression was decreased by cytochalasin B, and the decline in survivin expression were preceded by PKB dephosphorylation, which implicated that survivin may be a target of PKB protein. The G2/M arrest of cytochalasin B-treated cells may be the direct function of cytochalasin B to microfilaments or the subsequent inhibition of survivin expression, or both. These results suggest that PKB/survivin signaling pathway may be responsible for the apoptosis induced by the disruption of actin cytoskeleton.     

Effects of cytochalasin D on fusion of cells by HVJ (Sendai virus).

Fusion of cells mediated by HVJ was inhibited completely with 5 μg/ml or more of cytochalasin D (CD). With cytochalasin, HVJ-cell interaction at 0 °C proceeded as well as without cytochalasin; HVJ was adsorbed to cell surfaces and the cells agglutinated together. Then the virus particles were enfolded with cell membranes, which resulted in the disappearance of hemadsorption activity on the cell surfaces. When the cell-virus complex was incubated at 37 °C, the early reactions proceeded as well as without cytochalasin; the hemadsorption activity reappeared on the cell surfaces, the viral envelopes fused with cell membranes at the same degree as without cytochalasin, and a stage sensitive to sodium azide appeared as in a control without cytochalasin. But cell-to-cell fusion did not occur in the presence of cytochalasin; cells were dissociated freely from the cell aggregates during incubation. This indicates that cell-to-cell fusion was inhibited but HVJ envelope to cell membrane interactions proceeded well on incubation at 37 °C. These findings suggest that viral envelope-cell membrane fusion and cell-cell fusion are separable, and participation of a cytoskeleton system including microfilaments in the cells is essential for cell-cell fusion.     

Response of adrenal tumor cells to adrenocorticotropin: site of inhibition by cytochalasin B.

The ability of cytochalasin B to inhibit the steroidogenic response of mouse adrenal tumor cells (Y-1) to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) was examined with two aims: to consider the specificity of the inhibitor and to determine at what point(s) in the steroidogenic pathway it acts. Cytochalasin B did not inhibit protein synthesis or transport of [3H]-cholesterol into the cells nor did it alter total cell concentration of ATP. Together with previous evidence, this suggests that the effects of cytochalasin observed are relatively specific in these cells. Cytochalasin inhibits the increase in conversion of [3H]cholesterol to 20alpha-[3H]dihydroprogesterone (20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one: a major product of the steroid pathway in Y-1 cells) produced by ACTH but does not inhibit conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by mitochondrial and purified enzyme preparations from Y-1 cells and bovine adrenal, respectively. Cytochalasin does not inhibit the conversion of pregnenolone to 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone but was shown to inhibit increased transport of [3H]cholesterol to mitochondria resulting from the action of ACTH. These findings indicate that cytochalasin acts after cholesterol has entered the cells and before it is subjected to side-chain cleavage in mitochondria. In view of the known action of cytochalasin on microfilaments, it is proposed that these organelles are necessary for the transport of cholesterol to the mitochondrial cleavage enzyme and that at least one effect of ACTH (and cyclic AMP) is exerted upon this transport process. The specificity of the effects of cytochalasin is considered in relation to this conclusion.     

Membrane effects of cytochalasin B. Competitive inhibition of facilitated diffusion processes in rat hepatoma cells and other cell lines and effect on formation of functional transport sites

Cytochalasin B competitively inhibits the transport of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and thymidine in a number of different cell lines (Novikoff rat hepatoma cells, mouse L, S180 and Ki-MSV-transformed BALB/3T3 cells, and human HeLa cells). The apparent Km values for the transport of these substrates as well as the apparent Ki values for the inhibition by cytochalasin B are very similar for the various cell lines, and the effect is readily and completely reversed by removal of the chemical. Thymidine transport by Chinese hamster ovary cells however, is little affected by cytochalasin B, whereas the transport of 2-deoxy-D-glucose, uridine and guanine by these cells is competitively inhibited to about the same extent as in other cell lines. In addition and concomitant with the inhibition of cytokinesis and an alteration in cell shape, cytochalasin B also impairs and delays the formation of functional transport sites for thymidine, guanine and choline in synchronized populations of Novikoff cells without affecting the apparent affinities of the transport systems for their substrates. This effect is unrelated to the direct inhibition of the transport processes, since the drug does not directly inhibit choline transport and has no effect on the formation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport sites in spite of the fact that it strongly inhibits the transport of this substrate. The inhibition of functional transport sites may be due to the induction of a structural alteration in the membrane by cytochalasin B which impairs the insertion of new proteins of certain but not all transport systems into the membrane.     

Microtubules, microfilaments and the transport of acetylcholine receptors in embryonic myotubes

Both microtubules and microfilaments have been implicated in the exocytotic and endocytotic transport of coated and smooth surfaced membrane vesicles. We have reexamined this question by using specific pharmacological agents to disrupt these filaments and assess the effect on the movement of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) containing membrane vesicles in embryonic chick myotubes. Myotube cultures treated with nocodazole (0.6 microgram/ml) or colcemid (0.5 microgram/ml) (to disrupt microtubules) show only a 20-25% decrease in the number of cell surface AChRs after 48 h. Addition of chick brain extract (CBE) to cultured myotubes causes a significant increase in the total number of cell surface AChRs (measured by [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BGT) binding), thus providing us with a way to manipulate receptor and transport vesicle populations. Cultures treated with CBE plus nocodazole or colcemid show a 1.7-fold increase in AChR number over drug treatment alone, the same increase seen in cultures treated with CBE alone, although the total number remains about 20-25% less than that seen in control cultures. In cultures treated with cytochalasin D (0.2 microgram/ml) or dihydrocytochalasin B (5.0 micrograms/ml) (to disrupt microfilaments), 35 and 65% decreases in cell surface AChR number were seen after 48 h. However, in cultures treated with CBE and cytochalasin D, the same total number of AChRs was found as in cultures treated with CBE alone. No significant effects were seen with any of these drugs on the receptor incorporation rate (the appearance of new alpha-BGT-binding sites) after 6 h. The half-life for AChRs in control cultures was 23.0 h. In cytochalasin D and dihydrocytochalasin B it was 21.9 and 19.0 h, respectively; with colcemid and nocodazole, it increased to 37.1 and 28.1 h. These results suggest that non-myofibrillar microfilament bundles are not involved in the movement of AChR-containing membrane vesicles; further, the small effects seen with microtubule inhibitors tend to rule out a major role for microtubules in this transport.     

Actin microfilaments, cell shape, and secretory processes in isolated rat hepatocytes. Effect of phalloidin and cytochalasin D

The effects of phalloidin and cytochalasin D, drugs which, respectively, stabilize and destabilize actin microfilaments, have been tested on isolated rat hepatocytes. Both drugs produced a modification of cell shape, characterized by protrusions bulging from the cytoplasm. In phalloidin-treated hepatocytes, an accumulation of actin microfilamentous network was detectable at the base of each protrusion by electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and HMM decoration. This accumulation of microfilaments was absent in cytochalasin D-treated cells. The release of triglycerides, an index of very low density lipoprotein secretion, was inhibited by phalloidin or cytochalasin D, and accompanied by an increase in cellular triglycerides. At the electron microscope examination, triglyceride accumulation was represented by fat droplets and vesicle-enclosed, very low density lipoprotein-like particles. Total protein and albumin secretion was only very slightly modified by either one of these drugs. With the use of various phalloidin analogs, a correlation was observed between their respective ability to stabilize F-actin in vitro, and their effects on cell shape and triglyceride secretion. In conclusion, phalloidin, and cytochalasin D: (a) modify the shape of isolated hepatocytes; (b) inhibit lipoprotein secretion. These effects possibly result from a modification of actin microfilament function.     

INHIBITION OF PHAGOCYTOSIS AND PLASMA MEMBRANE MOBILITY OF THE CULTIVATED MACROPHAGE BY CYTOCHALASIN B : Role of Subplasmalemmal Microfilaments

Functional and morphologic effects of cytochalasin B on the cultivated macrophage were examined to determine the basis for plasma membrane movements of the type required for endocytosis and/or spreading on a substratum. Inhibition of phagocytosis and changes in cell shape by cytochalasin B exhibited nearly identical dose-response curves requiring 2–5 x 10^-6 M and 1–2 x 10^-5 M cytochalasin B to inhibit these functions by 50% and 100%, respectively. In contrast, hexose transport was ten times more sensitive to the drug requiring 2–3 x 10^-7 M cytochalasin B to achieve 50% inhibition of 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Inhibition of phagocytosis and changes in cell shape could not be explained solely by drug effects on hexose transport. Analysis of serial thin sections showed that cytochalasin B doses inhibitory for hexose transport had no effect on distribution or organization of either of the two subplasmalemmal microfilament types. However, cytochalasin B concentrations (2.0 x 10^-5 M) that inhibited phagocytosis and altered cell shape disorganized and/or disrupted oriented bundles of 40–50-Å subplasmalemmal microfilaments, but had no effect on the microfilamentous network. Comparative dose-response studies showing positive correlations among cytochalasin B effects on phagocytosis, changes in cell shape, and alterations in oriented subplasmalemmal microfilament bundles provide additional support for the hypothesis that microfilamentous structures play a role in translocation of plasma membrane required for endocytosis and cell motility.     

Effects of cytoskeletal perturbant drugs on ecto 5''-nucleotidase, a concanavalin A receptor

Differences in cell morphology, concanavalin A-induced receptor redistributions, and the cooperativity of the inhibition of 5'-nucleotidase (AMPase) by concanavalin A (Con A) have been investigated in ascites sublines of the 13762 rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells treated with microfilament- and microtubule-perturbing drugs. By scanning electron microscopy MAT-C1 cells exhibit a highly irregular surface, covered with microvilli extending as branched structures from the cell body. MAT-A, MAT-B, and MAT-B1 cells have a more normal appearance, with unbranched microvilli, ruffles, ridges, and blebs associated closely with the cell body. MAT-C cells have an intermediate morphology. Treatment of MAT-A, MAT-B, or MAT-B1 cells with Con A causes rapid redistribution of Con A receptors. Both cytochalasins and colchicine cause alternations in the receptor redistributions. Receptors on MAT-C1 cells are highly resistant to redistribution, even in the presence of cytoskeletal perturbant drugs. The cooperativity of the inhibition of AMPase by Con A was investigated in MAT-A and MAT-C1 cells. Untreated cells exhibit no cooperativity. If either subline is treated with colchicine, cytochalasin B or D, or dibucaine, cooperativity is observed. Lumicolchicine has no effect. Theophylline or dibutyryl cyclic AMP prevents the effects of either colchicine or cytochalasin. The concentration required for half-maximal induction of cooperativity is 0.3--0.4 microM for both colchicine and cytochalasin D, which is in the appropriate range for specific microtubule and microfilament disruptions. The effectiveness of the cytochalasins (E greater than D greater than B) is consistent with their known effects on microfilaments. No direct correlation was observed between the induction of cooperativity and drug-induced changes in Con A receptor redistribution or cell morphology. The morphology of MAT-A cells is grossly altered by cytochalasins or dibucaine and somewhat less by colchicine. MAT-C1 cells exhibit more minor alterations in morphology as a result of these drug treatments. The results of this study indicate that the inhibition of AMPase, which is a Con A receptor, is a different process from the redistribution of the bulk of the Con A receptors, possibly short range membrane interactions rather than global effects on the cell.     

Actin polymerization in murine B lymphocytes is stimulated by cytochalasin D but not by anti-immunoglobulin.

One might predict that cytochalasin D, which slows polymerization of actin in solution and which inhibits actin-containing microfilament function in live B lymphocytes, would also prevent actin polymerization in these cells. However, we have used the NBD-Phallacidin flow cytometric assay for F-actin and the DNase I inhibition assay for G-actin to demonstrate that cytochalasin D (at 20 micrograms/ml and higher) stimulates actin polymerization in murine B lymphocytes within the first 30 sec of exposure. A similar response was seen in human neutrophils. Actin polymerization induced in neutrophils by chemotactic peptides has been linked to activation of the polyphosphoinositide-calcium increase-protein kinase C signal transduction pathway. As B lymphocytes also transduce signals using this pathway, we investigated whether cytochalasin D induced actin polymerization by activating this pathway. Cytochalasin D and ionomycin both stimulated a rapid increase in internal calcium (by 1 min) in the B cell which was inhibitable by EGTA, implicating calcium influx. Ionomycin also induced actin polymerization, detectable later, by 10 min. EGTA blocked the ionomycin-induced actin polymerization, but not that induced by cytochalasin D. Cytochalasin D-induced actin polymerization was not associated with detectable hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides, nor was it inhibited by H7 (a protein kinase C inhibitor) or by HA1004 (an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases). Furthermore, anti-immunoglobulin antibodies, which stimulate B lymphocytes through the polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis-calcium increase-protein kinase C pathway, failed to induce actin polymerization in these cells. These antibodies did, however, stimulate the cells to perform activities that involve actin-containing microfilaments. Other primary activators of B lymphocytes (dextran sulfate, PMA, and LPS) and a panel of lymphokines previously shown to enhance B lymphocyte activation (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5) were also screened in the F-actin assay and no evidence for actin polymerization was found. We conclude that the actin polymerization response to cytochalasin D in the B cell does not involve the polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis-calcium increase-protein kinase C pathway, nor does it depend on cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases. Furthermore, our studies failed to provide any evidence that early actin polymerization occurs in murine B lymphocyte activation.     

Studies of ebola virus glycoprotein-mediated entry and fusion by using pseudotyped human immunodeficiency virus type 1 virions: involvement of cytoskeletal proteins and enhancement by tumor necrosis factor alpha

The Ebola filoviruses are aggressive pathogens that cause severe and often lethal hemorrhagic fever syndromes in humans and nonhuman primates. To date, no effective therapies have been identified. To analyze the entry and fusion properties of Ebola virus, we adapted a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virion-based fusion assay by substituting Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP) for the HIV-1 envelope. Fusion was detected by cleavage of the fluorogenic substrate CCF2 by beta-lactamase-Vpr incorporated into virions and released as a result of virion fusion. Entry and fusion induced by the Ebola virus GP occurred with much slower kinetics than with vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV-G) and were blocked by depletion of membrane cholesterol and by inhibition of vesicular acidification with bafilomycin A1. These properties confirmed earlier studies and validated the assay for exploring other properties of Ebola virus GP-mediated entry and fusion. Entry and fusion of Ebola virus GP pseudotypes, but not VSV-G or HIV-1 Env pseudotypes, were impaired in the presence of the microtubule-disrupting agent nocodazole but were enhanced in the presence of the microtubule-stabilizing agent paclitaxel (Taxol). Agents that impaired microfilament function, including cytochalasin B, cytochalasin D, latrunculin A, and jasplakinolide, also inhibited Ebola virus GP-mediated entry and fusion. Together, these findings suggest that both microtubules and microfilaments may play a role in the effective trafficking of vesicles containing Ebola virions from the cell surface to the appropriate acidified vesicular compartment where fusion occurs. In terms of Ebola virus GP-mediated entry and fusion to various target cells, primary macrophages proved highly sensitive, while monocytes from the same donors displayed greatly reduced levels of entry and fusion. We further observed that tumor necrosis factor alpha, which is released by Ebola virus-infected monocytes/macrophages, enhanced Ebola virus GP-mediated entry and fusion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Thus, Ebola virus infection of one target cell may induce biological changes that facilitate infection of secondary target cells that play a key role in filovirus pathogenesis. Finally, these studies indicate that pseudotyping in the HIV-1 virion-based fusion assay may be a valuable approach to the study of entry and fusion properties mediated through the envelopes of other viral pathogens.     

Effect of colchicine, vinblastine, and cytochalasin B on cell surface anionic sites of Tritrichomonas foetus

Drugs that interact with microtubules (colchicine and vinblastine) and microfilaments (cytochalasin B) partially inhibited cell growth and motility of Tritrichomonas foetus. Parasites incubated with these substances became rounded and cell division was blocked. Neither colchicine nor vinblastine disrupted the microtubules that form the peltar-axostylar system. Any one of these drugs interfered with the net negative surface charge of T. foetus as evaluated by determination of the cellular electrophoretic mobility (EPM). The decrease in the EPM of cytochalasin B-treated cells was caused by dimethylsulfoxide, which was used as solvent. Untreated cells as well as cytochalasin B-treated cells showed a uniform distribution of anionic sites on the plasma membrane as seen with cationized ferritin particles. In cells treated with colchicine or vinblastine the anionic sites were distributed in patches. These results are discussed in terms of participation of labile cytoplasmic microtubules and microfilaments in the control of the distribution of anionic site-containing macromolecules located on the cell surface of T. foetus.     

A possible complementary role of actin microfilaments and microtubules in triacylglycerol secretion by isolated rate hepatocytes

Incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes with phalloidin, cytochalasins (which, respectively, stabilize and destabilize actin microfilaments), or colchicine (which inhibits polymerization of microtubules), resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of triacyglycerol secretion (an index of very low density lipoprotein secretion). Upon removal of drugs from incubation media, the inhibitory effect of cytochalasin D on triacylglycerol secretion was reversible, while such was not the case for phalloidin. When used at maximal concentrations, the combined presence of phalloidin + colchicine or cytochalasin D + colchicine had additive inhibitory effects upon hepatic triacylglycerol secretion, which was virtually blocked; this was not the case for phalloidin + cytochalasin D. These experiments support the concept that microfilaments and microtubules may have complementary functions for the hepatic secretion of very low density lipoproteins.     

Hypersensitivity to cytoskeletal antagonists demonstrates microtubule-microfilament cross-talk in the control of root elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Elongation of diffusely expanding plant cells is thought to be mainly under the control of cortical microtubules. Drug treatments that disrupt actin microfilaments, however, can reduce elongation and induce radial swelling. To understand how microfilaments assist growth anisotropy, we explored their functional interactions with microtubules by measuring how microtubule disruption affects the sensitivity of cells to microfilament-targeted drugs. We assessed the sensitivity to actin-targeted drugs by measuring the lengths and diameters of expanding roots and by analysing microtubule and microfilament patterns in the temperature-sensitive Arabidopsis thaliana mutant microtubule organization 1 (mor1-1), along with other mutants that constitutively alter microtubule arrays. At the restrictive temperature of mor1-1, root expansion was hypersensitive to the microfilament-disrupting drugs latrunculin B and cytochalasin D, while immunofluorescence microscopy showed that low doses of latrunculin B exacerbated microtubule disruption. Root expansion studies also showed that the botero and spiral1 mutants were hypersensitive to latrunculin B. Hypersensitivity to actin-targeted drugs is a direct consequence of altered microtubule polymer status, demonstrating that cross-talk between microfilaments and microtubules is critical for regulating anisotropic cell expansion.     

Effect of cytochalasins on surfactant release from alveolar type II cells

Cytochalasins enhanced surfactant secretion from primary cultures of [³H]choline-labeled type II epithelial cells from the rat. Cytochalasins A, B, C, D and dihydrocytochalasin B enhanced secretion of phosphatidyl-[³H]choline ([³H]PC) in a dose-dependent manner with EC₅₀ values of 1, 2, 0.5, 0.1 and 1 μM for cytochalasins A, B, C, D and dihydrocytochalasin B, respectively. Only cytochalasin A caused significant cytotoxicity as determined by release of the intracellular enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.17). Dose responses of surfactant release induced by cytochalasins B, C and D were biphasic; maximal release was observed between 0.1–1.0 μM for cytochalasins C and D between 1 and 10 μM for cytochalasin B. Secretion decreased toward control levels at concentrations of cytochalasin above these maximal concentrations. Increased rates of [³H]PC release were noted between 1 and 3 h after exposure to cytochalasin D. Increased rates of surfactant release induced by cytochalasin D were additive to release induced by the β-adrenergic agonist, terbutaline, or forskolin, although cytochalasin D had no direct effect on cytosolic cyclic AMP levels. Changes in cell shape and microfilament organization were observed by phase-contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy using rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin after exposure of the isolated type II cells to cytochalasin D. Disruption of microfilaments associated with lamellar bodies of the purified type II cells occurred after treatment with cytochalasin D. Cytochalasin D augmented surfactant release from purified type II cells and disrupted the microfilament structure of those cells, supporting the hypothesis that alterations in microfilaments are associated with surfactant release.     

The mechanism of matrix vesicle formation. Studies on the composition of chondrocyte microvilli and on the effects of microfilament-perturbing agents on cellular vesiculation

The mechanism of matrix vesicle (MV) formation by growth plate chondrocytes in primary cell culture was assessed both by using drugs which interfere with assembly or disassembly of microfilaments and microtubules, as well as by comparison of the composition of chondrocyte microvilli with MV. Cytochalasin D, which is known to inhibit assembly of actin microfilaments, was found to stimulate the release of alkaline phosphatase-rich MV. This stimulatory effect was confirmed by studies with [3H]palmitate- and 32P-prelabeled cells which showed that cytochalasin D enhanced the release of labeled MV. In contrast, phalloidin, which blocks disassembly of microfilaments, suppressed release of cellular alkaline phosphatase into MV. The phospholipid composition of vesicles released by cells treated with cytochalasin D and phalloidin was virtually identical with that of the controls. In contrast, colchicine, which interferes with the assembly of microtubules, was found to cause fragmentation of the cells, producing large vesicles significantly different in lipid composition from MV. Microscopic studies revealed that cytochalasin D caused marked rounding and retraction of the cells, with evidence of actin withdrawal from the cell periphery. This led to cell surface blebbing and formation of small zeiotic bodies at the tips of cell processes. In contrast, phalloidin enhanced and stabilized the actin network within the cells. Chemical analysis of microvilli prepared from isolated chondrocytes revealed high levels of alkaline phosphatase and a phospholipid composition almost identical to MV. Electrophoretic profiles of microvillar proteins were again like that of MV, except for the presence of high levels of actin. This cytoskeletal protein was nondetectable in MV. Taken together with the effects of the drugs, the data indicate that cell surface microvilli are the precursors of MV and that retraction of the supporting microfilament network is essential for the release of these structures.