Identification of a 100 kD protein associated with microtubules, intermediate filaments and coated vesicles in cultured cells.

We have obtained several hybridoma clones producing antibodies to microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) from bovine brain. Interaction of one of these antibodies, named RN 17, with cultured cells was studied by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. RN 17 antibody recognized both high molecular weight (HMW) MAPs, MAP1 and MAP2, in immunoblotting reaction with brain microtubules. In lysates of cultured cells, it bound to a protein doublet with a molecular weight of 100 kD. By immunofluorescence microscopy we showed that RN 17 antibody stained cytoplasmic fibrils, mitotic spindles and small particles in the cytoplasm of various cultured cells. The cytoplasmic fibrils were identified as both microtubules and intermediate filaments by double fluorescence microscopy and by their response to colcemid and 0.6 M KCl. This identification was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy which also showed that the particles stained by RN 17 antibody are coated vesicles. Thus, cultured non-neural cells may contain a novel protein that binds to microtubules, intermediate filaments, and coated vesicles.