Tubulin as a major cell surface protein in human lymphoid cells of leukemic origin

Surface-exposed proteins of vinblastine-sensitive human lymphoid cell line of leukemic origin (CCRF-CEM) were examined by the lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis methods. Spots which comigrate with bovine brain tubulin and rabbit muscle actin were prominently labeled in the whole membrane but not in the high-speed supernatant fraction of the disrupted cells. Mild trypsinization of labeled cells removed the iodinated tubulin and actin without significantly affecting the protein staining pattern. Iodination of normal human lymphocytes resulted in no labeling of the tubulin or actin. The presence of surface-exposed tubulin in this leukemic cell line suggests a possible mechanism for their enhanced sensitivity to the cytotoxic action of vinblastine.