ECM Flashcards
What are the two major fibers in the ECM?
collagen & elastin
Basal lamina is a special type of ____
ECM
Anything below basal lamina is the:
Dermis
What are embedded in the proteoglycan gel?
fibers
What does fibronectin bind to?
integrin & collagen
What is the function of collagen?
strengthens, resists stretching, organizes ECM
What is the function of elastin?
elasticity
What is fibrillin?
a protein required for assembly of elastic fibers
What is the function of fibrillin?
forms a protein coat around elastic fibers, its required for assembly of elastic fibers
Besides collagen and elastin, what major substance is in the ECM?
Ground substance
What is the function of ground substance?
hydrated gel, resists compressive forces, permits rapid diffusion of nutrients, metabolites & hormones between blood & tissue
What two major substances are found in ground substance?
proteoglycans
glycoproteins
What composes proteoglycans?
Mostly GAGs and a little protein
What is the function of proteoglycans?
resist compression & fill spaces
What composes glycoproteins?
Mostly protein, a little GAGs
What is the function of glycoproteins?
Adhesive glycoproteins
What are three major glycoproteins in ECM?
fibronectin, laminin, entactin
Corneal & stroma ECM is transparent - why?
fibers are arranged in parallel bundles
How is ECM arranged in bone & teeth? (very generally)
its calcified
How is ECM arranged in tendons? (very generally)
ropelike
How is ECM arranged in cartilage? (very generally)
lots of collagen with ground substance - to absorb shock
Name the 5 functions of fibrous proteins
Fibrous proteins have physical properties that impart strength or flexibility
Simple repeating element of secondary structure
Water insoluble (hydrophobic residues packed in center)
Extracellular, long-lived proteins
Used to construct connective tissue, tendons, bone matrix
Collagen is what percentage of our proteins?
25%
What is the structure of collagen?
Thee collagen alpha chains wind together to form a triple helix
How is collagen arranged in skin?
loosely woven, arranged in all directions for support no matter which way skin is pulled
Every third aa of the alpha chain that makes collagen is made of what?
glycine
Why is it important that glycine is arranged every 3rd aa in alpha chain for collagen?
allows tightly packed triple helix (glycine is small), allows for hydrogen bonding w/ adjacent helix
How is collagen arranged in tendons?
parallel bundles
What cell makes collagen?
fibroblasts & epithelial cells
What is the only type of collagen found in basal lamina?
Type IV
Besides glycine, what aa is found on alpha helix of collagen?
proline & lysine
What often happens to the proline and lysine on the aa of alpha chain of collagen?
it is hydroxylated
Why is there hydroxyproline & hydroxylysine on alpha helix of collagen?
allows more hydrogen bonds b/w alpha chains, more stability
What is significant about the triple helix structure of collagen?
like cables of suspension bridge, very strong, resists unwinding
What is preprocollagen?
alpha chain (collagen) with ER signal sequence with propeptide domain at C & N terminus
What is the name of the alpha chain that will become collagen before it enters the ER?
preprocollagen
What does the “pre” mean in preprocollagen
it has an N terminal signal sequence to direct it to the rER for synthesis
What does preprocollagen become?
procollagen
What takes off the ER signal sequence from the preprocollagen?
signal peptidase
Type I collagen has how many alpha 1 chains and how many alpha 2 chains?
2 alpha 1 chains
1 alpha 2 chain
What does the “pro” mean in procollagen?
peptide domains @ C & N terminus
Three procollagen alpha chains assemble together to form a triple helix, where does this occur?
ER
Where do disulfide bonds form on propeptides?
C terminus
Where and when are propeptide domains cleaved off of procollagen?
Propeptide will be joined in ER, then go to golgi, then excreted into ECM. then the propeptide domain will be cleaved off.
Where are collagen fibers formed?
In ECM after propeptide domain cleaved, they will spontaneously join and form large fibers
What is the function of the propeptide domain on procollagen?
prevents associtaion of collagen fibril forming inside cell (its too big for cell!), helps form helix
What happens to some hydroxylysines inside the ER?
they are glycosylated
Where are disulfide bonds formed on procollagen in ER?
C terminus
What is the function of the disulfide bonds in procollagen?
helps align the alpha chains, initiates triple helix formation, kind of acts like a zipper to bind the helixes
The disulfide bonds have what’s called a “zipper mechanism” where they help join alpha chains to form helix - describe the zipper mechanism
“zips” up the three chains starting at C terminus and going to N terminus
Hydroxyproline is only found in what two places?
Collagen & elastin
The enzymes that convert proline and lysine to hydroxyproline & hydroxylysine require what?
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and iron
What is ascorbic acid?
Vitamin C
What are the three enzymes we need to know that convert proline & lysine to hydroxyproline & hydroxylysine?
Prolyl-3-hydroxylase
Prolyl-4-hydroxylase
Lysyl hydroxylase
What happens if there is a lack of hydroxyproline?
decreased stability of triple helix in collagen
What happens if there is no hydroxyproline in collagen?
collagen loses almost all of its helical content
Key words: anemia, fatigue, bleeding gums is what disease?
scurvy
Characteristics: Bleeding gums, loosened teeth, petechiae (pinpoint hemorrhages around air follicles, gums, nails); ecchymoses, poor wound healing, poor bone development, anemia & fatigue are what disease?
Scurvy
What is the mechanism for scurvy?
Vit C is required for hydroxylationof proline & lysine; deficiency of Vit C → lack of hydroxyproline → no H bonds → decreased stability of collagen triple helix → weak CT
What is the mode of inheritance for scurvy?
Acquired
Where is the defect in scurvy?
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency; unstable collagen
How long does it take for a person not eating any vitamin C to see symptoms of scurvy and why?
20-40 days, remodeling of CT takes time
What removes the propeptides on procollagen once it is excreted into the ECM?
peptidases
Why do propeptides need to be removed from collagen?
so that the collagen can form add’l bonds and cross link
What kind of interactions stabilize the collagen fibrils?
covalent
What aa is often on the end of collagen?
lysine
Lysines (and hydroxylysines) convert into what on collagen?
aldehydes
What converts lysines (and hydroxylysines) into aldehyde?
lysyl oxidase
Why are lysines converted to aldehydes?
So they can covalently bond to other collagen fibers
What is the function of aldehydes on collagen fibers?
Aldehydes react spontaneously
→ covalent bonds with each other or other lysines or hydroxylysines
Usually at ends
Stabilise side-by-side packing
What are the different types of fibrillar collagen?
Type I, II, III, V
What are the different types of FACIT collagen?
Type VI, IX, XII
What does FACIT stand for?
Fibril-Associated Collagens (VI, IX, XII) with Interrupted Triple helices
What are the different types of sheet (networking)-forming collagen?
Type IV, X
What are the different types of anchoring fibrils?
VII
Type I, II, III, V belong to which collagen family?
Fibrillar
What type of collagen is the only one found in the basal lamina?
Type IV (Sheet-forming collagen)
Where are anchoring fibrils found?
They anchor the basal lamina to the interstitial matrix
Type VI collagen binds and links what type of fibril?
Type I
Type IX collagen binds and links what?
bind & link type II fibrils & bind chondroitin sulfate (GAG)
Key words: hyperextensible skin, hypermobile joints, fibrillar collagen is what disease?
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Characteristics: Hyperextensible fragile skin, joint hypermobility & dislocations is what disease?
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
What is the mechanism for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
Defected fibrillar collagen synthesis → improper assembly of collagen → connective tissue weakness
Where is the defect in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Defected collagen (fibrillar collagen – I, III, V) synthesis
What coats the surface of fibrillin collagen and helps them bind together and to other components?
FACIT
____ is more flexible than fibrillar colalgen
FACIT
After it is secreted, what part of ECM retains its propeptides?
FACIT
Describe the structure of FACIT
3 stranded structure interrupted by non-helical domains, the non-helical domains cause kink
What two enzymes allow for the degradation of collagen?
MMP-1 & MMP-2
Why is it important to have enzymes to degrade the collagen in ECM
for remodeling, to help cells move, to help heal
What does MMP stand for?
Matrix Metalloproteinases
What is another name for MMP-1?
Collagenase I
What is another name for MMP-2?
Collagenase IV
What does MMP-2 degrade?
Type IV collagen → basal lamina
What type of cell is MMP-2 overexpressed
cancer cells (esp. epithelial cancer)
How are MMPs present in the ECM?
they are zymogens
What is a zymogen
Inactive enzyme
How does the body activate the MMPs that are inactive zymogens?
cleaved and activated
MMP can be stored where?
ECM
What is an inhibitor of MMP?
TIMPs
What is the dominant ECM protein in arteries?
elastin
What tissues have a lot of elastin?
arteries, skin, lungs, uterus
What amino acids are often in elastin?
glycine & proline
Collagen has glycine and proline like elastin - what is the difference in terms of these aa in elasin?
they will not be glycosylated and there is no hydroxylysine
Collagen fibers are often interwoven with what to prevent tearing and limit stretching?
elastic fibers
How is elastic tissue in relaxed state attached? (aka what type of bond)
covalently
tropoelastin molecules spontaneously assemble to form what?
elastic tissue
What is the main glycoprotein that covers elastin core?
fibrillin
If there is a mutation in fibrillin what is the disease?
marfan syndrome
What does fibrillin bind to?
elastin
what forms a scaffold for deposited elastin?
microfibrils
What is fibrillin essential for?
assembly & integrity of elastic fibers
Characteristics: Aortic root dilation & dissection, lens subluxation & retinal detachment, tall & thin, long limbs & fingers – archnodactylyl, funnel chest – pectus excavatum is what disease?
Marfan syndrome
What is the mechanism for marfan syndrome?
Defect in fibrillin → weak elastic tissue
What is the mode of inheritance for marfan syndrome?
AD
Where is the defect for marfan syndrome?
Defect in fibrillin (elastin)
What can happen to the aorta in a person who has marfan syndrome?
blood going through aorta with high pressure, can rupture part of wall and create false lumen
What does arachnodactyly mean?
long limbs & fingers
What does pectus excavatum mean?
funnel chest
What enzymes allows degradation of elastin?
elastase
Lungs inhibit what enzyme so there is no degeneration of its elasticity?
elastase
Why do the lungs need to inhibit elastase?
they cannot regenerate
What is the name of a serine protease secreted by neutrophils?
elastase