Colchicine-induced redistribution of an apical membrane glycoprotein (gp330) in proximal tubules

Factors governing the selective, polarized insertion of membrane proteins are poorly understood, but some studies have suggested that microtubules are involved in the generation and maintenance of cell polarity. We have examined by immunocytochemistry the effect of the microtubule-disrupting agent, colchicine, on the cellular distribution of an endogenous glycoprotein, gp330, which is normally inserted only into the apical plasma membrane of proximal tubule epithelial cells. In control rats, gp330 was localized in the brush border and in apical invaginations and vesicles. Six hours after injection of colchicine, however, vesicles containing gp330 were dispersed throughout the entire cytoplasm of the cell. Many vesicles were packed into basolateral infoldings, close to the plasma membrane, but there was no significant insertion of gp330 into the basolateral membrane. When rabbit anti-gp330 antiserum was injected intravenously into colchicine-treated rats, immune complexes appeared in the glomerular basement membrane but could not be detected in peritubular basement membranes. This supports the conclusion that colchicine treatment does not result in the insertion of gp330 into the basolateral plasma membrane of proximal tubule cells. Our results indicate that although microtubules are involved in the accumulation of gp330-containing vesicles at the apical pole of the cell, other factors must be required for fusion with the plasma membrane to occur.