Extracellular Maatrix Flashcards
What is the Extracellular matrix
- A complex network of proteins and carbohydrates deposited by and filling spaces between cells
- ## Comprises both fibrillar and non-fibrillar components
Key functions of ECM
Provides physical support
Determines mechanical and physicochemical properties of tissue
Influences growth adhesion and differentiation status if cells
Essential for development tissue function and organogenesis
3 major components of connective tissue
Collagen: Type I,II,III (fibrillar) and type IV (non fibrillar component of basement)
Multi adhesive glycoproteins: fibronectin,fibrinogen,laminins
Proteoglycans: Basement membrane eg perlecan,aggregating proteoglycans eg aagregan,small leucine rich proteoglycans eg decorin
What different types of connective tissue are there
Tendon and skin-tough and flexible
Bone-hard and dense
Cartilage-resilient and shock absorbing
How do different properties of connective tissue come about
Due to difference in ECM components
What are the 2 things gene mutations can affect in ECM to cause human disorders
ECM proteins and ECM catabolism
ECM protein diseases and where mutation is
Osteogenesis imperfecta-type 1 collagen
Marfans syndrome-fibrillin1
Alports syndrome-type IV collagen (alpha5)
Epidermolysis bullosa-laminin 5(in all three chains)
Congenital muscular dystrophy-laminin 2 (alpha 2 chain)
ECM catabolism syndromes
Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) which lead to inability to degrade glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
e.g. Hurler’s syndrome, leads to build up of ECM molecules
Loss of L-alpha-iduronidase
What does excessive ECM deposition cause
Fibrotic disorders due to excessive production
- Liver fibrosis- caused by cirrhosis
- Kidney fibrosis- caused by diabetic nephropathy
- Lung fibrosis- caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
Disorder due to excessive loss of ECM
osteoarthritis
How is collagen arranged in skin, mature bone and cornea and how does this relate to its function?
Successive layers nearly at right angles to one another
This resists tensile force in all directions
Structure of collagens
3 alpha chains which may be different
Homotrimers are same collagen and heterotrimers are different collagens.
2 a1(1) and 1 a2(1)
Composition of type I and II and III collagens
I: chains from two different genes to [alpha2(I)]
Both only have 1 chain type so compositions are $[alpha1(II)]_3$ and $[alpha1(III)]_3$
They are homotrimers
What is the structure of the triple helix
Gly-X-y in each alpha chain
Gly is glycine
X is usually proline
Y is usually hydroxyproline
Why is glycine always third
The triple helices have to pack together tightly and glycine is smallest amino acid so is small enough to occupy the interior of the helices with it’s H side chain
This gives a stiff triple helix structure in collagen
What happens to the non-collagenous domains at N- and C- termini after secretion in the case of fibrillar collagens?
They are removed
Steps of collagen synthesis
1) synthesis of pro-alpha chains
2) hydroxylation of proline and lysine
3)glycolysatuon of hydroxylisines
4)self assembly of 3 pro alpha chains
5)pro collagen triple helix formation
6)secretion and cleavage
7)aggregation of collagen fibres
- Occurs in Fibroblasts
What two compounds are involved in the cross linking of collagen
Lysine
Hydroxylysine
How do cross links between collagen molecules help with function
Provide tensile strength and stability