Vinculin in cultured bovine lens-forming cells

The distribution and organization of vinculin in bovine lens-forming cells was studied in short- and long-term cultures by using monospecific antibodies and immunofluorescence microscopy. In the epithelioid cells, originating from the epithelial cell layer of the anterior capsule, vinculin was located at contact sites of the adjacent cells. In the elongated cells, representing the cortical fiber cells, vinculin could be seen exclusively as numerous patches at the substratum-facing side of the cells. In these cells, no lateral foci of vinculin, corresponding to cell-cell contact sites, were discernible. The results show that cells originating from different parts of the bovine lens display divergent vinculin locations, probably reflecting altered cytoskeletal organization and cell-cell interactions during differentiation.