[Immunomorphological research on the changes in the focal contacts of cultured cells transformed by Kirsten sarcoma virus].

Alterations of focal contacts (FC) of NRK cultured cells transformed by Kirsten's sarcoma virus and by ts-mutant of this virus were examined immunomorphologically using a new antibody-exclusion method. In nontransformed NRK cells the FC are arranged in the form of a network near the cell edges; numerous single contacts are seen in the center. The FC are always present in both KNRK and tsKNRK cells at permissive temperature. However, their quantity is drastically reduced, especially in the center of the cells, as is often their size. It is suggested that expression of the product of viral oncogene interferes with maturation of the FC continuously formed at the cell edge.