Fig. 5.

Vinculin and actin expression in keratinocytes on intact and fragmented collagen. Upper panels: confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of human epidermal keratinocytes after 48 h on a three-dimensional polymer of intact collagen or fragmented collagen. Vinculin expression (green fluorescence) is widespread and distant from cell bodies in keratinocytes on intact collagen (evidence that the cells are well spread and in contact with the substrate over a wide area). On fragmented collagen, distribution is predominantly observed in the immediate vicinity of the cell bodies. Actin expression (red fluorescence) is observed in the vicinity of the cell bodies on both substrates. Lower panel: western blot for vinculin. A similar level of vinculin is observed on both substrates. Values shown in the bar graph represent digitized vinculin bands in western blots from two separate experiments and represent means and ranges. Confocal microscopic analysis was done with three separate preparations