Taxol-induced microtubules from different sources: an ultrastructural comparison.

Microtubules from different sources have been isolated using 20 microM taxol. An ultrastructural comparison allowed us to reveal some differences among taxol dependent structures. In tobacco pollen tubes a characteristic system of thin filaments was associated with taxol-induced microtubules.

Phosphorylated epitopes of neurofilaments have been conserved during chordate evolution.

We have characterized some rabbit polyclonal responses as strictly specific for phosphorylated epitopes located in the carboxyterminal (tail) domain of the H or the M subunits of mammalian neurofilaments. These antibodies have been used to confirm the occurrence in lizard neurofilaments of a single heavy subunit cross-reacting with both H and M from mammals. A heavy subunit with similar cross-reactivity has been detected in neurofilaments preparations from fishes, whereas more primitive Chordata possess a HMW polypeptide cross-reacting with only the M subunit.