Corrugated attachment membrane in WI-38 fibroblasts: alternating fibronectin fibers and actin-containing focal contacts.

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Abstract
Distributions of fibronectin (LETS, CSP) fibers and focal contacts to the substratum, as viewed by fluorescence and reflection contrast microscopy, respectively, were compared in freshly plated WI-38 human fibroblasts. Most frequently, the actual focal attachment plaques did not contain fibronectin fluorescence and fibronectin spots and fibers often alternated with focal contacts. Overlap was observed between focal contacts and the endings of actin-containing stress fibers. Fibroblast attachment membrane apparently is a corrugated sheet that undulates between alternating microfilaments and fibronectin fibers, at the points of closest and farthest distance to the substratum, respectively.