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Cytoplasmic fibrils in living cultured cells

A light and electron microscope study

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Summary

By a combined light and electron microscopic study, the structure and behavior of the stress fibers of cultured rat embryo cells are described. From an analysis of movie records of living cells it is seen that the stress fibers are in a state of flux, continually altering their dimensions and dispositions within the cell. However, compared to most other cellular movements, these rates of change are slow. By electron microscopy it is shown that the stress fibers consist of bundles of close packed elongate 75 Å filaments, arranged just beneath the plasma membrane adjacent to the cell's plane of attachment and that similar filaments, forming a loose framework, permeate the cytoplasmic matrix. On the basis of careful light and electron microscopic comparisons, it is concluded that the filamentous structure shown within the cytoplasm of glutaraldehyde/osmium-fixed cells is a generally accurate representation of the structure of the living cell cytoplasm. It seems likely that the stress fibers are concerned in stabilizing areas of cellular attachment as well as with resisting forces that stretch the cell. The suggestion is made that, by controlling cytoplasmic viscosity and responding to cytoplasmic microtubules, the diffuse framework of filaments helps to determine the form of the cell and that, by a coordinate dynamic activity of its filaments, it provides the motive power for the various forms of cellular and intracellular movements.

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Author notes

  1. Keith R. Porter

    Present address: The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, USA

  2. Ian K. Buckley

    Present address: Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, N. 2, Victoria, Australia

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  1. The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, USA

    Ian K. Buckley

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Buckley, I.K., Porter, K.R. Cytoplasmic fibrils in living cultured cells. Protoplasma 64, 349–380 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666538

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666538

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