The cytoskeletal filament proteins cu-actinin, filamin, desmin, and filamin-desmin aggregates were adsorbed to a hydrophobic silica surface. The adsorbed amount as measured by ellipsometric methods after rinsing and equilibration was 2.7 mg/m(2) for alpha-actinin and 0.4 mg/m(2) for filamin plus desmin, respectively. Adsorbed layer thicknesses in physiological salt solution were about 107 nm, 89 nm, 108 nm and 93 nm for alpha-actinin, filamin, desmin, and cross-linked filamin-desmin, respectively. Ca2+ ions in a concentration of 10(-4), 10(-3), and 2.52 mmol/l had no effect on the adsorbed amount, refractive index, and adsorbed layer thickness of the individual intermediate filament proteins. Cross-linked filamin-desmin, however, reacted markedly upon the addition of these Ca2+ concentrations with a change in refractive index and adsorbed layer thickness. The layer formed by the filamin- desmin complex contracted by 2-3, 6-7, and 6-7 nm, respectively. The maximum shortening occurred at 1 mu mol/l Ca2+. The Ca2+-dependent adsorbed layer changes of cross-linked filamin-desmin supports the contractile mechanisms in muscular tissues and forms the basis for migration and motility in nonmuscular cells. These motional events are crucially involved in peripheral organ perfusion, inflammation, and tumor invasion and metastasis.