PROTEINS Flashcards
adherens junction
a type of anchoring junction, specialized regions on the cell surface containing cell-adhesion molecules or adhesion receptors; mediate cell-cell adhesion
apical
Referring to the tip of a cell, an organ, or other body structure.
basal
Any cell situated at the base of a multilayered tissue, as at the lowest layer of the epidermis
basal lamina
a thin sheet-like network of extracellular components that underlies most animal epithelia and other organized groups of cells, separating them from connective tissue or other cells.
cadherins
A family of dimeric cell-adhesion molecules that aggregate in aherens junctions and desmosomes and mediate Ca2+ dependent cell-cell homophillic interactions.
cancer
General term denoting any of various malignant tumors, whose cell grow and divide more rapidly than normal, invade surrounding tissue, and sometimes spread (metastasize) to other sites.
cell junction
Specialized regions on the cell surface through which cells are joined to each other or to the extracellular matrix.
microfibril
A microtubule or microfilament within the cell; an extremely small, submicroscopic cellular fiber.
collagen
A triple-helical glycoprotein rich in glycine and praline that is a major component of the extracellular matrix and connective tissues. The numerous subtypes differ in their tissue distribution and the extracellular components and cell-surface proteins with which they associate.
connective tissue
Several body tissues that connect, support, and help bind other tissues.
desmosome
a structure by which two adjacent cells are attached, formed from protein plaques in the cell membranes linked by filaments.
differentiated cell
Cell differentiation is the process by which dividing cells change their functional or phenotypical type.
embryonic stem (ES)
A line of cultured cells derived from very early embryos that can differentiate into a wide range of cell types either in vitro or after reinsertion into a host embryo.
cell epithelium (plural epithelia)
refers to layers of cells that line hollow organs and glands. It is also those cells that make up the outer surface of the body.
extracellular matrix
