We have used the synchronized formation of a mixed cytoplasm upon heterokaryon formation as a model for investigating the cisternal-specific transport of resident proteins between neighboring Golgi apparatus. Rat NRK and hamster 15B cells were fused by UV-inactivated Sindbis virus and then incubated for various time periods in the presence of cycloheximide. The resident Golgi apparatus proteins, rat GIMPc and Golgp 125, were localized with species-specific monoclonal antibodies. Immunofluorescent colocalization of rat and hamster Golgi membrane proteins was observed with a t1/2 of 1.75 h at 37 degrees C. Colocalization of resident, but not transient, Golgi membrane protein was concomitant with formation of a large extended Golgi complex and was accompanied by the acquisition of endoglycosidase H resistance by preexisting Golgp 125. Dispersal of the extended Golgi complex by nocodazole revealed that colocalization of resident Golgi proteins was due to intermixing of proteins in the same Golgi element rather than overlapping of closely apposed Golgi structures. Incubation of the polykaryons at 20 degrees C inhibited both the colocalization of GIMPc and Golgp 125 and the formation of an extended Golgi complex. Little change in the number of cisternae/stack in cross sections of the Golgi apparatus was observed upon cell fusion, and in the extended Golgi complex the hamster resident protein remained localized to one side of the Golgi stack. Surprisingly, the morphological identity of the rat and hamster Golgi units appeared to be maintained in the heterokaryons. These results suggest that the intermixing of resident Golgi membrane proteins requires direct physical continuity between Golgi elements and that resident Golgi membrane proteins are preferentially excluded from the non-clathrin-coated transport vesicles budding from Golgi cisternae.