Cellular extracts derived from pheochromocytoma cells (PC12-) inhibit the assembly of calf brain tubulin, while those derived from nerve growth factor-differentiated cells (PC12+) do not display this effect. Incubation with RNase abolishes the inhibition by PC12- extracts and reveals the presence of an activating effect exerted by PC12+ extracts. Activation of microtubule assembly is enhanced when extracts are prepared from PC12+ cells exposed for 1 day to 1.0 microM taxol and is abolished when PC12+ extracts are: (a) prepared from cells incubated for 1 day with 1 microM colchicine, (b) treated with the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P-40 or (c) centrifuged at 100 000 g instead of 80 000 g. 2D gel electrophoresis of the proteins of the 100 000 g pellet responsible for the activating effect (referred to as 100 K g pellet) reveals the presence of 100 K, 88 K and 32 K proteins which are markedly enriched in PC12+ extracts. The 88 K protein is further enriched in taxol-treated cells and markedly reduced in the same cells incubated with colchicine. A correlation between the differential protein composition of the 100 K g pellets and their effect on microtubule formation is postulated.