Disruption of microtubules in living cells and cell models by high affinity antibodies to beta-tubulin.

Polyclonal antibodies with high affinity for beta-tubulin were found to disrupt cytoplasmic microtubules efficiently after microinjection into tissue culture cells. The degree of microtubular fragmentation was directly proportional to the amount of the injected antibody. At molar ratios of 1 antibody per 100 tubulin dimers, most microtubules were disrupted within 90 min after injection. In contrast, the time course of disintegration was relatively independent of the antibody concentration. Within the range of 1 antibody per 10(2)-10(4) tubulin dimers, the maximal values for microtubular disintegration were reached approximately 1-1.5 h after injection. Mitotic microtubules were found to be resistant to all antibody concentrations used. In living cells, microtubules recovered within a few hours after antibody-induced decay. The time course of recovery, like the extent of disintegration, was a function of the antibody concentration. The antibody acted also on microtubules in detergent-extracted cell models and on microtubules polymerised in vitro. When added to microtubular protein, the bivalent antibody as well as its Fab fragments prevented polymerisation. The data suggest that these antibodies disrupt microtubules because their affinity to tubulin is at least 100 times higher than the affinities found for tubulin:tubulin interaction. Fragmented microtubules are probably unstable and decompose into smaller units.