ECM Flashcards
What is ECM
The non cellular components present within tissues and organs
What is the ECM composed of
Proteins, proteoglycans (carbohydrates) and minerals
What is the most abundant tissue within the body
Connective tissue
Give an example of a tissue which is mostly ECM
Cartilage
What does the ECM do
Strength, Support, Protection, stores and presents growth
Cell adhesion and migration
Acts as a scaffold for tissue repair
A signal for cell function
Where does ECM come from
Secreted by cells
What synthesis and maintains the matrix
Cells
List 8 types of ECMs found in the oral cavity
Basement membrane (epithelia, muscle, fat, nerves)
Elastic tissues (skin, large blood vessels)
Stromal or interstitial matrix
Bone
Tooth
Cartilage
Tendon
Ligament
What are the 5 classes of macromolecules
Collagens
Elastic fibres (elastin and fibrillin)
Proteoglcans
Hyaluronan
Adhesive glycoproteins e.g. laminin and fibronectin
List 3 type I collagen main structural protein of ECM
Skin
Tendon
Bone
List 2 type II main structural proteins of ECM
Cartilage
Vitreous humour
List 2 type III structural proteins of ECM
Skin
Muscle
List 1 type IV main structural protein of ECM
Basal lamina (meshwork)
What is special about types V-XII main structural protein of ECM
Less abundant
What do elastic fibres do
Allow tissues to resume their shape after stretching e.g. artery, lung, skin, bladder
How are elastic fibres arranged
In crosslinked arrays of tropoelastin
What are proteoglycans
Protein backbone polysaccharide side chains
What is a feature of proteoglycans
Large branching which aggregates retaining H2O
List 4 glycosaminoglycans
Chondroitin sulphate
Heparin sulphate
Keratin sulphate
Hyaluronic acid
Where is chondroitin sulphate
Hyaline cartilage
where is heparin sulphate
Basement membrane
Where is keratin sulphate
Cornea
Where is hyaluronic acid
Skin, polysaccharide only
What are 4 features of proteoglycans
Can be small or large
Bind to proteins
Cell surface proteoglycans
Act as co receptors
What allows diffusion into cells
Alpha and beta integrins
What creates ECM
Fibroblasts
Name 2 adhesive components
Laminin and fibronectin
Name 2 elastic fibres
Elastin and fibrillin
What ECM matrix defect causes periodontitis
Extensive matrix degradation in disease
