The podosomes of Rous sarcoma virus transformed chondrocytes show a peculiar ultrastructural organization

The ultrastructure of F-actin-containing punctate adhesion structures (podosomes) and of their rosette-like clusters has been studied by transmission electron microscopy in Rous sarcoma virus transformed chick embryo chondrocytes. Peculiar "glove finger" invaginations were found to take origin from the ventral membrane at sites of close contact; they were directed toward the center of the cell perpendicularly from the substratum. These new structures may be the sites where the local release of proteases takes place at the side of cell-to-substratum adhesion in podosome-bearing cells. The cytoplasmic face of glove finger invaginations and of the plasma membrane at cell-to-cell contact is lined by thick accumulations of microfilamentous material.