Elsevier

Experimental Cell Research

Volume 112, Issue 2, 15 March 1978, Pages 265-273
Experimental Cell Research

The distribution of desmin (100 Å) filaments in primary cultures of embryonic chick cardiac cells

https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4827(78)90209-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Using antibodies to desmin, the major component of the 100Å-filaments from smooth muscle cells, we studied by indirect immunofluorescence the distribution of this protein in primary cultures of embryonic chick cardiac cells. We show that desmin is a component of cytoplasmic filamentous structures which comprise a network distinct from actin filament bundles and microtubules. Exposure of these cells to colcemid results in a rapid disaggregation of microtubules, and a slow aggregation of the desmin-containing filaments towards the nuclear area with the ultimate formation of a perinuclear ring. In differentiated skeletal or cardiac muscle cells, in addition to its cytoplasmic filamentous distribution, desmin is found intimately associated with the Z lines of sarcomeres. We further show that approx. 50% of the cells in these primary cardiac cultures are unreactive with desmin antibodies. Similarly the majority of the cells in a number of established cell lines from various species grown in tissue culture, are unreactive to desmin antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence, despite the fact that these cells are known to contain cytoplasmic 100Å-filaments. These results indicate that desmin occurs in at least two distinct cytoplasmic distribution in cardiac cells. They also demonstrate the existence of immunological and biochemical differences in the major component of 100Å-filaments between muscle and non-muscle cells as evidenced by the failure of non-muscle cells to react with antibodies to chick smooth muscle desmin.

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    This work was supported by a grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America and by a grant from the NIH.

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