Visualization of a system of filaments 7-10 nm thick in cultured cells of an epithelioid line (Pt K2) by immunofluorescence microscopy.

Abstract

During our studies with antibodies against structural proteins of the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells we have observed that sera from many normal rabbits decorate a fiber system in cells of the established rat kangaroo cell line Pt K2. The display and organization of these fibers are different from those of microfilament bundles (decorated by antibody to actin) and microtubules (decorated by antibody to tubulin

Characterization of cells of amniotic fluids by immunological identification of intermediate-sized filaments: Presence of cells of different tissue origin

“…After prolonged treatment (24 h) of the cultures with 10-6M colcemid, juxtanuclear aggregates showing the characteristic caps and whorls of bundles of vimentin filaments were formed ( Fig. 5c; compare Osborn et al 1977;Bennett et al 1978;Franke et al 1978a, b;Hynes an Destree 1978).…”

Identification of mouse mammary epithelial cells by immunofluorescence with rabbit and guinea pig antikeratin antisera.

“…Vimentin is the major intermediate filament protein of mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells (8,(12)(13)(14). Sections of normal mammary gland from a mouse in late pregnancy therefore were treated simultaneously with a rabbit antiserum against vimentin and a rhodamine-conjugated secondary antibody (Fig.…”

A monoclonal antibody to chicken gizzard desmin that recognizes intermediate filaments and nuclear granules in BHK21/C13 cells.

“…In addition, IF proteins are such strong antigens that auto-antibodies frequently are obtained (24,41), whereas actin is a very weak antigen because its amino acid sequences have remained almost the same during evolution.…”

“…In interphase cells, IFs can be distinguished from microtubules by treatment with colcemid or colchicine, drugs that destroy micro- tubules and, as a result, induce IFs to aggregate into whorls or perinuclear rings (15,25,41,52). During mitosis, IFs retain their structure and form a cage around the mitotic spindle (4,5,25).…”