Characterization of the intermediate filament apparatus in skin fibroblasts from patients with giant axonal neuropathy: effect of trypsin.

Skin fibroblasts from two siblings with giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) were examined by both biochemical and immunocytochemical studies. The presence of intermediate filaments (IF) characteristic of these cells was affected by the growth conditions. Immediately after plating and during the following 24 hours the majority of the cells contained an IF "bundle"; however, after 4-6 days in culture only a minority of the cells retained this structure. We present evidence that trypsinization but not serum concentration is likely to influence the formation of the "bundle." The results indicate that the formation of the "bundle" may result from a defective association or relationship between the cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane.