MICROTUBULE COMPLEXES CORRELATED WITH GROWTH-RATE AND WATER PROTON RELAXATION-TIMES IN HUMAN-BREAST CANCER-CELLS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (10) , 4124-4130
Abstract
Ten established human breast cancer cell lines displayed patterns of microtubule organization which are characterized by growth rate of the cell populations and the freedom of mobility of cellular water molecules measured by NMR spectroscopy. Cell lines with population-doubling times of 1-2 days demonstrated rapid mobility of water molecules by proton spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times (T1 > 750 msec, T2 > 120 msec) and had diffuse patterns of tubulin immunofluorescent antibody staining. Moderately fast dividing cells (population-doubling times of 3-7 days) had T1 values of 600-750 msec and showed .apprx. 50% organized complexes of polymerized microtubules in the cytoplasm. Slow-growing cell lines demonstrate more restricted mobility of water molecules (T1 values of 500-600 msec) and contained abundant networks of polymerized microtubules. The 3-way correlation of the physical parameter of water proton relaxation times, the structural parameter of microtubule organization and the physiological parameter of growth suggest a close interaction of water molecules with the cytoplasmic macromolecular network in the performance of physiological function.