Lysosomes as well as a prelysosomal compartment rich in the mannose 6-phosphate receptor are clustered close to the Golgi apparatus in the perinuclear region of the microtubule organizing center in interphase human skin fibroblasts. The spatial organization of these organelles depends on an intact microtubule network. Depolymerization of the microtubules by treatment of cells with nocodazole leads to random scattering of Golgi elements, the prelysosomal compartment, and lysosomes throughout the cytoplasm. To test whether microtubules and the spatial organization of these organelles are important for efficient transport of lysosomal enzymes, the effect of microtubule depolymerization on the maturation of newly synthesized cathepsin D was studied. An up to fivefold inhibition of proteolytic maturation of cathepsin D was observed in drug-treated cells. This effect was due to a decreased rate of transport of cathepsin D from the Golgi apparatus to lysosomes. Depolymerization of microtubules did not inhibit transport of cathepsin D from the endoplasmic reticulum to the trans-Golgi network. Furthermore, synthesis of the phosphomannosyl marker present on cathepsin D was not affected by nocodazole. These results suggest that efficient transport of cathepsin D from the Golgi apparatus to a prelysosomal compartment and lysosomes is facilitated by microtubules and the spatial organization of these organelles.