Transient concentration of a gamma-tubulin-related protein with a pericentrin-related protein in the formation of basal bodies and flagella during the differentiation of Naegleria gruberi.

The distribution of two proteins in Naegleria gruberi, N-gammaTRP (Naegleria gamma-tubulin-related protein) and N-PRP (Naegleria pericentrin-related protein), was examined during the de novo formation of basal bodies and flagella that occurs during the differentiation of N. gruberi. After the initiation of differentiation, N-gammaTRP and N-PRP began to concentrate at the same site within cells. The percentage of cells with a concentrated region of N-gammaTRP and N-PRP was maximal (68%) at 40 min when the synthesis of tubulin had just started but no assembled microtubules were visible. When concentrated tubulin became visible (60 min), the region of concentrated N-gammaTRP and N-PRP was co-localized with the tubulin spot and then flagella began to elongate from the region of concentrated tubulin. When cells had elongated flagella, the concentrated N-gammaTRP and N-PRP were translocated to the opposite end of the flagellated cells and disappeared. The transient concentration of N-gammaTRP coincided with the transient formation of an F-actin spot at which N-gammaTRP and alpha-tubulin mRNA were co-localized. The concentration of N-gammaTRP and formation of the F-actin spot occurred without the formation of microtubules but were inhibited by cytochalasin D. These observations suggest that the regional concentration of N-gammaTRP and N-PRP is mediated by actin filaments and might provide a site of microtubule nucleation for the assembly of newly synthesized tubulins into basal bodies and flagella.