WEEK 7 (Extracellular matrix) Flashcards
What is the importance of the extracellular matrix?
- acts as a filler that lies between the tightly packed cells in a tissue
- retains a level of water and homeostatic balance
- holds the cells together
- keeps cells from moving to other locations and prevents large molecules and particles from reaching contiguous and distant cells
What are the basic components of the extracellular matrix?
- structural proteins
- proteoglycans
- adhesion proteins (link components of matrix to each other and to cells)
- collagens, elastin and laminin (fibrous proteins/principal structural proteins of connective tissue)
What are the properties of Proteoglycans?
- form gel of ECM
- found in interstitial connective tissue (synovial fluid, vitreous humor, arterial walls, bone, cartilage, cornea)
- variety of proteins in the matrix (collagen, elastin, fibronectin, laminin)
- consist of polysaccharides called GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS (GAGs) linked to a core protein
- may contain over 100 glycosaminoglycan chains and consist of up to 95% carbohydrate by weight
- interact with a variety of proteins in the matrix (collagen, elastin, fibronectin, laminin)
What are glycosaminoglycans composed of?
repeating units of disaccharides
What are Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)?
Long, unbranched, heteropolysaccharides composed of repeating disaccharide chains where one of the sugars is an N-acetylated amino sugar (either N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactoseamine) and the other is an acidic sugar
What glycosaminoglycan is the only exception?
Keratan Sulfate
contains galactose rather than an acidic sugar
What are the amino sugars usually found in glycosaminoglycans?
either D-glucosamine or D-galactosamine
the amino group is usually acetylated, eliminating its positive charge.
What are the acidic sugars usually found in glycosaminoglycans?
either D-glucuronic acid or L-iduronic acid
What are the characteristics of D-glucoronic acid or L-iduronic acid?
- uronic sugars
- contain carboxyl groups that are negatively charged at physiologic pH
- carboxyl groups and sulphate groups give GAGs their strongly negative nature
What gives Glycosaminoglycans their strongly negative nature?
carboxyl groups and sulphate groups
What mechanism do Proteoglycans follow?
The negatively charged carboxylate and sulfate groups on the proteoglycan bind to the positively charged ions and form hydrogen bonds with trapped water molecules, creating a hydrated gel
What are the properties of the gel?
- provides a flexible mechanical support for the ECM
- acts as a filter
- allows diffusion of ions, H2O and small molecules
- slows diffusion of proteins and movement of cell
- acts as a lubricant
What is the importance of Hyaluronan?
- the only glycosaminoglycan occurring as a single long polysaccharide chain
- only glycosaminoglycan not sulphated
- distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial and neural tissues
What is the effect of the high concentration of negative charges found in GAGs?
repeating disaccharide chains tend to be:
- extended in solution
- repel each other
- surrounded by a shell of water molecules
What happens when a solution containing GAGs is compressed and when the compression is released?
When a solution containing GAGs is compressed, the water is squeezed out and the GAGs are forced to occupy a smaller volume
When the compression is released, the GAGs spring back to their original, hydrated volume because of the REPULSION of their negative charges
What does the compression property of GAGs contribute to?
- resilience of cartilage
- synovial fluid
- vitreous humor of the eye
Describe the structure of Proteoglycans
- contain many chains of GAGs (mucopolysaccharides)
- function extracellularly
- long, negatively charged glycosaminoglycan chains repel each other (therefore occupies a very large space and acts as “molecular sieves” determining which substances enter/leave cells
- differ in monosaccharides present in their repeating disaccharide units
- GAGs are linked to proteins (except for hyaluronic acid)
Describe the structure of Proteoglycans
- contain many chains of GAGs (mucopolysaccharides)
- function extracellularly
- long, negatively charged glycosaminoglycan chains repel each other (therefore occupies a very large space and acts as “molecular sieves” determining which substances enter/leave cells
- differ in monosaccharides present in their repeating disaccharide units
- GAGs are linked to proteins (except for hyaluronic acid)
Which amino acids are GAGs usually attached covalently to?
Serine & Threonine
Which amino acid is Keratin sulfate I usually attached to?
Asparagine
What is the structure of glycosaminoglycans?
- core protein
- serine side chain
- linkage region (galactose-galactose-xylose)
- repeating disaccharide units (acidic sugar-amino sugar)
Describe the linkages found in glycosaminoglycans
GAGs attached to core protein via covalent linkage are most commonly through a trihexoside (galactose-galactose-xylose) and a serine residue in the protein. An Glycosidic bond is formed between the xylose and the hydroxyl group of the serine.
What are the properties of the association between proteoglycan monomers and one molecule of hyaluronic acid?
- form proteoglycan aggregates
- association is not covalent
- occurs primarily through ionic interaction between the core protein and the hyaluronic acid
- association is stabilised by additional small proteins called LINK PROTEINS
Describe the structure and properties of Chondroitin 4 sulphates and Chrondroitin 6 sulphates
- Disaccharide unit consists of N-ACETYLGALACTOSAMINE (with Sulphate on either Carbon 4 or Carbon 6) and GLUCURONIC ACID
- most abundant GAG in the body
- found in cartilage, tendons, ligaments and aorta
- form proteoglycan aggregates, through non-covalent association with hyaluronic acid
- in cartilage, binds collagen and holds fibers in a tight, strong network
- formation of bone, cartilage, cornea
Describe the structure and properties of Dermatan Sulfate
- Disaccharide unit consists of N-acetylgalactoseamine and L-iduronic acid (with variable amounts of glucoronic acid)
- Found in skin, blood vessels and heart valves
- function: transparency of cornea
Describe the structure and properties of Keratan Sulfates I and II
- disaccharide units consists of N-acetylglucosamine and Galactose (no uronic acid); sulfate may be present on carbon 6 of either sugar
- most heterogenous GAG since they contain additional monosaccharides such as L-fucose, N-acetyl-neuraminic acid and mannose
- KS I is found in corneas
- KS II is found in loose connective tissue proteoglycan aggregates with chondroitin sulfate
- function: transparency of cornea
Describe the structure and properties of Hyaluronic acid
- Disaccharide units consist of N-acetylglucosamine and Glucoronic acid
- Different from other GAGs since not sulphated, not covalently attached to protein and not limited to animal tissue but also found in bacteria
- serves as a LUBRICANT and SHOCK ABSORBER
- Mediates CELL MIGRATION in EMBRYOGENESIS, MORPHOGENESIS & WOUND HEALING
- found in synovial fluid of joints, vitreous humor of the eye, the umbilical cord, loose connective tissue and cartilage
Describe the structure and properties of Heparin
- Disaccharide units consist of Glucosamine and Glucuronic or Iduronic acid
- Alpha-linkage joins the sugars
- Unlike other GAGs which are extracellular, Heparin is an intracellular component of mast cells that line arteries, especially in liver, lungs and skin
- Serves as an anticoagulant
- Causes release of lipoprotein lipase from capillary walls