Ruthenium Red-Stained Coat of Normal and Simian Virus 40-Transformed Cells 1,2

SUMMARY-The ruthenium red-stained coat (RRSC) on the surFace of normal, neoplastic (nonviral), and simian virus 40 (SV40)-transFormed cell lines of human, hamster, and monkey origin was studied under the electron microscope. No characteristic changes in the thickness of RRSC were Found in virus-transFormed cells. All SV40-transFormed cells, however, had ex-tensive undulation of the Free surFace of the superFicial layer of cells, with numerous protrusions and microvilli that were covered by a relatively thick layer of RRSC. Nonviral neoplastic cells showed some undulation, but a thinner RRSC. Normal cell surFaces were mainly smooth, with only a Few microvilli. The thickness of the RRSC of normal cells was verleble, in many cells (especially AFrican green monkey kidney) the RRSC was relatively thick.-J Nat Cancer Inst 43: 1241-1248, 1969. MOST MAMMALIAN cell surfaces (1) are coated with a glycoprotein or a polysaccharide-rich layer which can be seen histochemically b