Distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the intermediate filaments of the cultured cells from a patient with tuberous sclerosis

We established a cell line (TS) from adenoma sebaceum of a patient with tuberous sclerosis. Through our previous studies, the abnormal cell division and dysfunction of TS cells were indicated. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and 55 kd protein had been to be major cytoskeletal proteins in these cells. This time we have examined the structure and distribution of cytoskeletons in TS cells with immunoelectron microscopy. TS cells were found to coexpress GFAP and vimentin-like substance; both structures seem to be closely related. The coexistence of a few kinds of proteins integrated in the cytoskeletons might lead to the abnormal behavior of the nucleus during the process of cell division.