Microtubules have been implicated in the transport of vesicles carrying newly synthesized proteins from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the cell surface. We have established a quantitative in vitro binding assay to investigate the putative interaction between these exocytic carrier vesicles and the microtubules at the molecular level. TGN-derived exocytic carrier vesicles, labeled with C6NBD-ceramide metabolites or viral glycoproteins, were obtained from polarized filter-grown MDCK II cells by

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... perforation of the apical membrane with a nitrocellulose filter. These exocytic vesicles were incubated with taxol-polymerized tubulin and cytosol, layered on top of a 30% sucrose cushion and subjected to centrifugation. Quantitation of vesicles co-sedimenting with microtubules was done by measuring NBD-fluorescence of viral glycoproteins in the pellet and supernatant fractions. About 25% of the label sedimented through the cushion in the presence of microtubules and cytosol. Both apically and basolaterally targetted carrier vesicles containing influenza virus HA2 or vesicular stomatitis virus G protein, respectively, associated with the microtubules. Only 2-5% NBD-fluorescence was obtained in the pellet when no cytosol or microtubules were added to the vesicles. Negative-stain electron microscopy of resuspended pellets showed distinct microtubule-vesicle complexes. Heat inactivation or treatment of cytosol with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), or trypsinization of vesicles inhibited the binding of vesicles to microtubules. Furthermore, coating of microtubules with brain microtubule-associated proteins abolished binding. These data suggest that NEM-sensitive cytosolic proteins are required for microtubule-vesicle association, and that the vesicles are bound via trypsin-sensitive receptor proteins on their surface.