Characterization of myosin V from PC12 cells.

PC12 cell line is a cellular model to study neurite outgrowth and neurotransmitter release mechanisms. Molecular motors may be involved in these responses and myosin V could be a candidate to mediate these effects. Overlay experiments using [(125)I]-calmodulin showed that PC12 cells possess several calmodulin-binding proteins, some of them around 190-210 kDa. Western blots using affinity purified polyclonal antibodies raised against chicken brain myosin V revealed a component of 190 kDa, a molecular mass typical of myosin V. Furthermore, Northern blots using a myosin V probe also detected a transcript of around 12 kbp. Immunofluorescence cytochemistry demonstrated the localization of myosin V throughout the cytoplasm, in the neurites, growth cone tips, and with an intense asymmetrical perinuclear labeling. Western blot analyses of PC12 cellular extracts after FGF-2 and/or dibutyryl cAMP treatment revealed variations between myosin V and myosin II expression during neuronal differentiation. These results demonstrated the presence of myosin V in PC12 cells and also suggest a role for this motor molecule in the neuronal differentiation response in PC12 cells. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.