Reversibility of cell surface label rearrangement

Cell surface labeling can cause rearrangements of randomly distributed membrane components. Removal of the label bound to the cell surface allows the membrane components to return to their original random distribution, demonstrating that label is necessary to maintain as well as to induce rearrangements. With scanning electron microscopy, the rearrangement of concanavalin A (con A) and ricin binding sites on LA-9 cells has been followed by means of hemocyanin, a visual label. The removal of con A from its binding sites at the cell surface with alpha-methyl mannoside, and the return of these sites to their original distribution are also followed in this manner. There are labeling differences with con A and ricin. Under some conditions, however, the same rearrangements are seen with both lectins. The disappearance of labeled sites from areas of ruffling activity is a major feature of the rearrangements seen. Both this ruffling activity and the rearrangement of label are sensitive to cytochalasin B, and ruffling activity, perhaps along with other cytochalasin-sensitive structure, may play a role in the rearrangements of labeled sites.

Cell shape changes and transmembrane receptor uncoupling induced by tertiary amine local anesthetic

Tertiary amine local anesthetics (dibucaine, tetracaine, procaine, etc.) modify cell morphology, concanavalin A (Con A)-mediated agglutinability and redistribution of Con A receptors. Con A agglutination of untransformed mouse 3T3 cells was enhanced at low concentrations of local anesthetics, and the dynamics of fluorescent-Con A indicated that ligand-induced clustering was increased in the presence of the drugs. In contast, these drugs inhibited Con A-induced receptor capping on mouse spleen cells. These effects can be duplicated by combinations of vinblastine (or colchicine) and cytochalasin B suggesting that local anesthetics act on microtubule and microfilament assemblies which are involved in the trans-membrane control of cell surface receptor mobility and distribution. It is proposed that tertiary amine local anesthetics displace plasma membrane-bound Ca2+, resulting in disengagement of microfilament systems from the plasma membrane and increased cellular Ca2+ concentration to levels which disrupt microtubular organization. The possible involvement of cellular Ca2+ in cytoskeletal destruction by local anesthetics was investigated utilizing Ca2+-specific ionophores A23187 and X537A. In media containing Ca2+ and cytochalasin B these ionophores caused effects similar to tertiary amine local anesthetics.