Interaction of 7-acetyltaxol with different tubulin assemblies.

Equilibrium microdialysis of [3H]acetyltaxol against different tubulin assemblies showed that: (i) the binding capacity of tubulin does not depend on the temperature; (ii) two classes of 'polymers' exist, with respect to Ac-taxol binding. Some of them (plaques, complex cylinders induced with some polycations and spirals made with rhazinilam) bound Ac-taxol, as do normal microtubules. In contrast, spirals formed with vinblastine and griseofulvin, rings made with polycations and complex cylinders induced with spermine do not bind Ac-taxol as is the case with free tubulin.