Purification and characterization of beta-actin-rich tumor cell pseudopodia: role of glycolysis.

The MSV-MDCK-INV invasive variant of Moloney sarcoma virus (mos) transformed MDCK cells express multiple beta-actin-rich pseudopodia (P. U. Le et al., Cancer Res. 58, 1631-1635, 1998). We show here that the tips of these actively protruding cellular domains are morphologically distinct presenting numerous blebs and selectively pass through 1-microm-pore filters. The pseudopodia were purified from the underside of the filters and a major protein component was identified as the glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). By confocal microscopy, GAPDH colocalized with actin in MSV-MDCK-INV pseudopodia localizing this glycolytic enzyme to this site of active actin polymerization. Inhibition of glycolysis with 2-deoxyglucose or oxamate induced a rapid transformation of beta-actin-rich pseudopodia into extended lamellipodia and prevented cell motility. A localized glycolytic supply of energy therefore regulates the formation of beta-actin-rich pseudopodial protrusions and thereby the motility of invasive tumor cells.