Regulation of cytoplasmic microtubule complex organisation in somatic cell hybrids

Regulation of cytoplasmic microtubule complex (CMTC) organization was studied in cultured human fibroblasts and mouse macrophages by somatic cell fusion. The heterokaryons stained with antitubulin antibody had fibroblast-like CMTC even 72 hours after fusion. There was no change in CMTC pattern when more than one macrophage had fused with one fibroblast. However, the macrophage CMTC was expressed in heterokaryons when the former were located at the periphery of the heterokaryon. To evaluate the role of existing CMTC in determining the CMTC of heterokaryons, the heterokaryons were treated with nocodazole to depolymerize the CMTC and then allowed to recover. The resultant CMTC was fibroblast like.