Actin-like filaments in bone cells of cultured mouse calvaria as demonstrated by binding to heavy meromyosin.

A variety of intracellular filaments (50-70 A in diameter) found in bone cells was shown to bind specifically to HMM. Because of this property, these filaments are probably biochemically similar to muscle actin. in osteoblasts and osteocytes, these reactive filaments were oriented in bundles parallel to the plasma membrane and filling the cell processes. In the osteoclast the filaments along the cell membrane were not so highly organized. In the clear zone, the quiescent part of the cell adjacent to the motile ruffled border, organized filament bundles were oriented perpendicular to the cell membrane and terminated in short processes at the bone surface. These filaments were also reactive with HMM. The possible significance of the filaments with respect to the physiology of bone cells is discussed.