Effect of hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) on the microtubular system of Tetrahymena pyriformis

HMBA (10-[3-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzylidene)]-9(10H)-anthracenone) is an inhibitor of tubulin polymerization and a developmental inducer in mammalian cells. The effect of HMBA on the microtubular system of Tetrahymena was investigated. This is the first case when its effect was studied in an unicellular animal, by using immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, Flutax-1 staining and flow cytometry. In Tetrahymena, HMBA (20 nM.; 10 and 45 min) significantly decreased the label of transversal microtubules (without affecting longitudinal ones) and also decreased the diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence (tubulin-dimer pool). However, it increased the gross amount of α-tubulin and acetylated tubulin. Cilia showed an extraordinary strong labeling. Longer treatments (45 min) were toxic. There is a possibility, that the extremely rich tubulin content of cilia was due to the inducer effect of HMBA or to the self-defense of the cell.