Cellular infrared detector appears to be contained in the centrosome

Abstract

Previous experiments have suggested that 3T3 cells were able to extend pseudopodia toward latex particles up to 60 microns away from the cell body if the particles were irradiated by an infrared beam in the range of 700-900 nm [Albrecht-Buehler, 1991: J. Cell Biol. 114:493-502]. The present article reports that this response of cells to infrared light can be inhibited if the cell center is simultaneously irradiated with a beam of the same light. In marked contrast, the cells responded normally to the presence of infrared light scattering particles if the second beam irradiated other parts of the cell body. The results imply that the cellular mechanism of infrared detection is located at the cell center. The infrared sensing mechanism remains intact in enucleated cells and in cells which were incubated in monensin to vesiculate their Golgi apparatus and inhibit their Golgi functions. Accordingly, it is proposed that the centrosome which contains the centrioles is the only remaining candidate in the cell center for a cellular detection device for the direction of infrared signal sources. The results support an earlier suggestion that centrioles may be such detection devices [Albrecht-Buehler, 1981: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 1:237-245].