title: On spatial periodicity in the formation of cell adhesions to a substrate.
abstract: Interference reflection microscopy reveals a fairly regular array of marginal focal contacts in early states of cell spreading. A theoretical explanation of the onset of patchiness is given, based on the positively cooperative binding to the substrate of laterally diffusing receptor molecules.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002645:Chickens; D005895:Gizzard, Avian / Q000166:cytology; D008433:Mathematics; D008853:Microscopy; D010507:Periodicity