ECM

Question 1

Function of ECM

Answer 1

Act as structural support to maintain cell organisation and integrity
Provide hardness to bone and teeth
Present information to adjacent cells

Question 2

Types of ECM

Answer 2

Basement membrane, elastic tissues, bone, tooth and cartilage, tendon and ligament

Question 3

5 classes of macromolecules

Answer 3

• Collagen
• Elastic fibres
• Proteoglycans
• Hyaluronan
• Adhesive glycoproteins

Question 4

Collagen

Answer 4

Insoluble fibrous protein
Most abundant protein in animals
Made by fibroblasts
Triple helix

Question 5

Elastic fibres

Answer 5

Found throughout the body
Most prominent in skin
Composed of fibrillin and elastin
Synthesized by smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts

Question 6

Proteoglycans

Answer 6

Found in connective tissues and ECM
Attached to the surface of many cells
Responsible for volume of ECM

Question 7

Hyaluronan

Answer 7

Major component of proteoglycans 
Resist compression 
Keeps cells apart from one another 
Facilitates cell migration 
Inhibits cell- cell adhesion

Question 8

Laminin

Answer 8

Guides cell during development
Cross shaped
3 subunits

Question 9

Fibronectin

Answer 9

Attach cells to matrices that contain fibrous collagen

Essential for migration and cellular differentiation