To investigate the behavior of nuclear proteins in apoptotic cells, we examined the changes in nucleolin and proteins of the nucleolar organizing region during apoptosis in human osteoblastic cell lines, Saos-2 and MG63. Apoptosis was induced by treatment of these cells with okadaic acid. Proteins prepared from apoptotic cells were subjected to Western blot analysis and a modified Western blot method using silver nitrate. The anti-nucleolin antibody recognized the 110-kDa band and the staining intensity of this band decreased in the proteins prepared from the okadaic acid-treated apoptotic cells. The additional band of an 80-kDa was also detected in the proteins prepared from the apoptotic cells. Two major silver nitrate-stained bands, 110-kDa and 37-kDa, were detected among the proteins obtained from control cells. Like the Western blot analysis, the intensity of the 110-kDa silver nitrate-staining band decreased; an 80-kDa band appeared and its staining intensity increased in the lysate from the okadaic acid-treated cells. The signal intensity of the 37-kDa protein did not change in the sample from the apoptotic cells. In a cell-free apoptotic system, the 80-kDa protein was also detected and the amount of the 110-kDa protein decreased in the extract of Saos-2 cell nuclei incubated with apoptotic cytosol. The change in nucleolin in Saos-2 cells induced to undergo apoptosis was examined by an immunocytochemical procedure using the anti-nucleolin antibody and Hoechst 33342. Nucleolin was visible as dots in nucleoli in the control cells; however, it was not detected in the cells undergoing apoptosis. The dual-exposure view of Hoechst 33342 and anti-nucleolin staining cells confirmed that nucleolin had disappeared from the apoptotic nuclei of Saos-2. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.