Microtubule disassembly and morphologic alterations induced by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, a substrate for glutathione S-transferase.

1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), a potent substrate for glutathione S-transferase, is known to rapidly deplete cellular glutathione (GSH) via conjugate formation. Treatment of quiescent 3T3 cells with 5 uM CDNB results in disassembly of microtubules (MT) within 1 hr as revealed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, CDNB treatment also induces dramatic morphologic alterations similar to those mediated by colchicine. Furthermore, taxol prevents both MT disassembly and morphologic changes normally occurring in CDNB as well as colchicine-treated cells. The mechanism of CDNB-mediated MT disassembly in vivo and its possible relationship to cellular GSH metabolism are under current studies.