Concentration of caveolin-1 in the cleavage furrow as revealed by time-lapse analysis

Caveolin-1 is a major component of caveolae. Recent studies have suggested a possible role of caveolin-1 in cell transformation and normal cell prolif eration. To observe the behavior of caveolin-1 in living mitotic cells, we prepared cDNA constructs encoding the chimeric protein of alpha- or beta-ca veolin-1 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) and transfected culture cells with them. Correct targeting of the chimera to the caveolae was confirmed b y colocalization with the caveolar inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-li ke protein. By time-lapse observation of mitotic MDCKII cells, the GFP-cave olin-1 chimeras mere seen throughout the plasma membrane before cell divisi on, but became markedly concentrated at the cleavage furrow during cytokine sis. Accumulation around the spindle poles was also observed at late teloph ase. The result showed that caveolin-1 undergoes a drastic distributional c hange-during cell division and suggested that the protein may be involved i n the cytokinetic process. (C) 2000 Academic Press.