THE GLYCEROL-ISOLATED MITOTIC APPARATUS: A RESPONSE TO PORCINE BRAIN TUBULIN AND INDUCTION OF CHROMOSOME MOTION

The birefringence of the MAs or spindles isolated from sea urchin eggs with the 1 M glycerol-isolation medium was stabilized when more than 0.5 mg/ml tubulin was contained in the medium. The addition of glycerol up to a final concentration of of 4 M strongly stabilized the MAs even in the absence of GTP and tubulin. The birefringence of the spindle and asters was not reduced even for the periods of several hours. The incorporation of heterogeneous tubulin into the isolated anaphase MAs was demonstrated by augmentation of the birefringence at the interzonal region as well as half spindles accompanied by enlargement of spindle and asters. In the anaphase MAs isolated in the absence of brain tubulin, chromosomes moved a short distance toward the poles upon addition of ATP, Mg2+ and 0.5 mg/ml tubulin. When the MAs were isolated in the presence of 0.5 mg/ml tubulin, the chromosomes moved in a more regular fashion to half the way to the poles accompanied by an increase in spindle length by 10 to 15%. GTP could not be substituted for ATP for inducing the motion. The chromosome motion of the isolated anaphase spindle was less significant than that of the isolated MA. Increasing tubulin concentration to 3 mg/ml, the chromosomes in the isolated MA separated at random by an unusual growth of the spindle. The stretch of the interzonal region by incorporating heterogeneous tubulin seemed to push the chromosomes apart abnormally. It was suggested that brain tubulin in a range of 0.5 mg/ml supports a tubulin-MA microtubule equilibrium favoring more regular motion of chromosomes in vitro.