Specific association of STOP protein with microtubules in vitro and with stable microtubules in mitotic spindles of cultured cells.

Abstract STOP (Stable Tubule Only Polypeptide) is a neuronal microtubule associated protein of 145 kd that stabilizes microtubules indefinitely to in vitro disassembly induced by cold temperature, millimolar calcium or by drugs. We have produced monoclonal antibodies against STOP. Using an antibody affinity column, we have produced a homogeneously pure 145 kd protein which has STOP activity as defined by its ability to induce cold stability and resistance to dilution induced disassembly in microtubules in vitro. Western blot analysis, using a specific monoclonal antibody, demonstrates that STOP recycles quantitatively with microtubules through three assembly cycles in vitro. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrates that STOP is specifically associated with microtubules of mitotic spindles in neuronal cells. Further, and most interestingly, STOP at physiological temperature appears to be preferentially distributed on the distinct microtubule subpopulations that display cold stability; kinetochore-to-pole microtubules and telophase midbody microtubules. The observed distribution suggests that STOP induces the observed cold stability of these microtubule subpopulations in vivo.