Cells injected with guanosine 5'-[alpha, beta-methylene]triphosphate, an alpha, beta-nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP, show anomalous patterns of tubulin polymerization affecting cell translocation, intracellular movement, and the organization of Golgi elements.

Injection of the alpha, beta-nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, guanosine 5'-[alpha, beta-methylene]triphosphate (pp[CH2]pG) into PtK2, A549, and Swiss 3T3 cells produced dramatic changes in the normal pattern of long radiating microtubules displayed by the cells before injection. Injection of pp[CH2]pG into cells growing in normal medium resulted in the formation of microtubule bundles resistant to depolymerization by Colcemid and calcium. Cells injected with pp[CH2]pG after incubation with Colcemid for 2 hr showed polymerization of tubulin into long wavy ribbons within 2 hr after injection. Removal of Colcemid 1 hr after the injection of pp[CH2]pG resulted in assembly of tubulin into short single randomly oriented microtubules. All cells injected with pp[CH2]pG showed impeded translocation and restriction or absence of intracellular movement. pp[CH2]pG also prevented the fragmentation of Golgi elements in A549 cells treated with Colcemid. Cells first treated with Colcemid and then injected with pp[CH2]pG failed to reassemble the Golgi elements after the removal of Colcemid. Cells in intimate membrane contact with cells injected with pp[CH2]pG showed similar changes in microtubule polymerization, cell movement, and organization of Golgi elements.