Neurofilament protein in clonal lines of mouse neuroblastoma.

As indicated by immunofluorescence with neurofilament antiserum and by electron microscopy two neuroblastoma clones in suspension culture contained a pool of neurofilament subunits which could be induced to assemble into filaments following exposure to vinblastine and colchicine. Under the same culture conditions neuroblastoma cells treated with aluminum extended thick processes with many filaments. The processes were much smaller in nontreated cells but still contained bundles of filaments. These filaments persisted after inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide. In the long neurites formed by cells attached to plastic immunofluorescence with neurofilament antiserum was particularly intense at the growth cone.