Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Flashcards
What is the ECM?
ECM is a 3D network of proteins and molecules surrounding and supporting the cells and tissues.
Created by cells.
Is the ECM small and mat-like in the connective tissue or the epithelial tissue?
Epithelial tissue
What is the structure of the ECM in the tendon for high tensile strength?
rope-like
Two reasons why ECM is important?
- structural
- cell behaviour (cues given from ECM substrate to cells)
Which cell type secretes the ECM in connective tissues?
fibroblasts
Which type of fibroblasts form cartilage?
chondroblasts
Which type of fibroblast forms bone?
osteoblasts
What are the three major classes of ECMs?
- proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
- fibrous proteins
- glycoproteins
Which ECM class are these proteins found in?
- hyaluronan
- perlecan
- decorin
- aggrecan
proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAG)
Which ECM class are these proteins found in?
- type IV collagen
- fibrillar collagen
fibrous proteins
Which is the largest class of ECM proteins?
glycoproteins
Which ECM class are these proteins found in?
- laminin
- nidogen
- fibronectin
glycoproteins
How many ECM proteins do mammals have?
300
What are the two types of ECM assemblies distinguished between tissues?
- Basal lamina (basement membrane)
- Connective tissue
Where do you find basal laminae?
it underlies all epithelial and surrounds some non-epithelial cell types incl.
- multinucleated muscle fibre in skeletal muscle
- entire length of myelin sheath
What is the primary function of the basal membrane?
Provide mechanical stability
What are some other functions the basement membrane may have?
Selective filter
Determines cell polarity
Can influence cell behaviour
Highway for cell migrations
What is carcinoma?
cancer of the epithelial cell
How do cancer cells eat through the basement membrane?
Express matrix metalloproteases - enzymes capable of degrading ECM proteins
What are the interwoven networks of the basal laminae?
- Laminin network
- Perlecan network
- Type IV collagen
Which mesh-works does nidogen bind to in basement membrane?
Laminin
Type IV collagen
How do cells interact with type IV collagen and laminin on basement membrane?
via intern heterodimers
What are the primary organisers of the basal lamina sheet?
Laminin
What are the three subunits of laminin? What shape do they make?
alpha chain
beta chain
gamma chain
crucifix shape
How many genes encode for laminin?
11
Basal epithelial cells are attached to basement membrane. What attaches them?
Hemidesmosomes
What are hemidesmosomes?
Cell-matrix junctions that help anchor the epithelial cells to the basement membrane