Figure 4. Microtubule-disrupting agents do not affect polarized clustering of uropod proteins.

CCRF-CEM cells were pre-treated with or without 10 µM taxol for 30 min or 20 µM nocodazole for 10 min, plated on ICAM-1, and then stimulated with 20 nM CXCL12 for 5 min before fixation. (A) Cells were stained with anti-ICAM-3 antibody (green) and phalloidin to show actin filaments (red). Small uropod-like protrusions where ICAM-3 accumulates in nocodazole-treated cells are indicated with white asterisks. Representative confocal images are shown. (B) Cells were stained with anti-RhoA antibody (green) and anti-phospho-ERM antibody (red). Bleb-like membrane protrusions are indicated with white arrows and small uropod-like protrusions where brighter phospho-ERM staining is observed are shown with white asterisks in nocodazole-treated cells. Bar = 10 µm.