FAIRSpectra - Enabling the FAIRification of Spectroscopy and Spectrometry
Extracellular matrix
1. Extracellular matrix
Extracellular matrix
z Network of proteins and carbohydrates that
binds cells together
z Supports and surrounds cells
z Regulates cells activities
z Lattice for cell movement
Extracellular matrix molecules
z Only 5 classes of macromolecules
z Collagens
z Elastic fibers
z Proteoglycans
z Hyaluronan
z Adhesive glycoproteins
Insoluble – can not be hydrated
Soluble – easily hydrated
z They can be mixed up in different proportions for
different functions
Functions
z Mechanical support
z Embryonic development
z Pathways for cellular migration
z Wound healing
z Management of growth factors
Collagen
z Major insoluble fibrous protein of the
extracellular matrix and connective tissue
z Most abundant protein in animals
z Made by fibroblasts and some epithelial cells
Collagen – molecular structure
z Triple helix of polypeptides
z Each polypeptide is a left-handed
helix too
2. Types of collagen
z Fibrillar
z Forms structures such as tendon or cartilage
z Sheet forming
z Connecting
z Supports and organizes fibrous collagen
z Transmembrane
Fibrillar collagen I
z Basic unit – triple helix 300 nm long
z 2 α1 and 1 α2 molecules
z Collagen fibrils form by lateral interactions of
triple helices
z Stabilized by covalent bonds
z Displacement by 67 nm (gives the striated look)
The basic structural unit of collagen Assembly of collagen fibers
z Synthesized in secretory pathway as procollagen
z Glycosylation in ER and Golgi
z Helix formation in ER
z Disulfide bonds that
are cleaved later
z Assembly outside !
Sheet forming collagen
z Polymerizes into sheets
z Forms basal membranes – collagen IV
z Collagen VIII – Descemet’s membrane of cornea
Collagen IV
z A helix interrupted about 24 times by segments
that can not form a helix
z Globular domains at both C- and N-termini
3. Collagen IV
z Nonhelical domains introduce flexibility
z C-terminus globular domains associate with
each other
z Helical domains associate laterally to form
branching strands
Connecting collagens
z Link fibrillar and sheet forming
collagens to into networks and
connect them to other structures
z Collagen VI – short helices
interspersed with globular
domains
z Align collagen I into parallel
structures
Connecting collagens
z Collagen IX has two rigid helices
connected by the flexible kink
z The globular N-terminus binds to
proteoglycans in the extracellular
matrix
z Links collagen II to glycosoaminoglycans
(provides cushion for compression as in
cartilage)
Elastic fibers
z Found throughout the body
z Most prominent in skin
z Composite of fibrillin fibrils and elastin
z Synthesized only by fetal and juvenile fibroblasts
z Whatever is made by puberty has to last until the end
z Loss is responsible for wrinkles
Fibrillin
z Tread like protein
z Forms 10 nm microfibrils
z Found in elastic fibers and basal lamina
z Linear molecule with independently folded
domains
Elastin
z A polymer of tropoelastins
z Tropoelastins form a family of closely related
proteins
z Products of a single gene and alternative
splicing
4. Elastin
z Continuous random
network of elastin
polypeptides
z Helical domains separate
random chains rich in
hydrophobic residues
Soluble components of extracellular
matrix
z Proteoglycans
z Form highly hydrated gel responsible for volume of
extracellular matrix
z Hyaluronan
z Hydrated polysaccharide
z Makes matrix resilient to compression
z Multiadhesive matrix proteins
z Long flexible molecules that bind other matrix
components and cells
Proteoglycans
z Diverse group of proteins with multiple
polysaccharide chains
z Found in connective tissues and extracellular
matrix
z Also attached to the surface of many cells
z Responsible for volume of extracellular matrix
z Highly hydrated
Proteoglycans
z Consist of multiple glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
posttranslationally added to a core protein
Proteoglycans
z Very diverse
z Different type of core protein (aggrecan, syndecan)
z Different composition of GAGs (chondroitin sulfate,
heparin, heparan sulfate)
z Different lengths
GAG synthesis
z GAGs are posttranslational modifications of a
core protein
z Core protein is synthesized in secretory pathway
z Polysaccharides are added in ER by glycosyl
transferases
z Elongated and modified in Golgi
5. Functions of proteogylcans
z Structural – elastic space fillers
z Limit diffusion of macromolecules
z Impede passage of microorganisms
z Act as lubricants in the joints
z Regulate cell motility and adhesion
Other (nonstructural) functions of
proteoglycans
z Sequestration of growth factors
z Present hormones to cell-surface receptors
Proteoglycans
z Assemble into aggregates with hyaluronan as a
core of the aggregate
Hyaluronan a.k.a. hyaluronic acid,
hyaluronate
z Major component of proteoglycans
z Extremely long, negatively charged
polysaccharide
z Resists compression
z Swollen gel creates turgor pressure
z Forms viscous, hydrated gels
z Large number of anionic residues on the surface bind
water
Hyaluronan
z Hyaluronan keeps cells apart from one another
z Facilitates cell migration
z Surrounds migrating and proliferating cells
z Inhibits cell-cell adhesion
Adhesive glycoproteins
z Long flexible molecules with domains for binding
z Collagen
z Other matrix proteins
z Polysaccharides
z Cell surface molecules
z Signaling molecules
6. Adhesive glycoproteins
z Attach cells to the extracellular matrix
z Regulate cell attachment
z Migration
z Cell shape
z Organize components of the matrix
z Most bind to integrins – cellular adhesion
receptors
Laminins
z Adhesive glycoproteins present in basal lamina
z Basal lamina guides cells during development
z Cells migrate along laminin containing surfaces
z Cross-shaped proteins
z As long as basal lamina is thick
z 3 subunits
z High affinity binding sites for
z Heparan sulfate
z Collagen IV
z Cellular adhesion receptors
Basal lamina
z A thin planar assembly of extracellular matrix
proteins
z Basis is formed by collagen IV and laminin
Interaction of the basal lamina with
adjacent cells
z Collagen IV and laminin interact with cell surface
integrins and bind adjacent cells to basal lamina
z Basal lamina guides cells during development
z Cells migrate along laminin containing surfaces
Basal lamina is structured differently
in different tissues
z Polarized cells
z Filter that regulates passage of nutrients
z Smooth muscle
z Maintenance of integrity
Basal lamina is structured differently
in different tissues
z Kidney glomerulus
z Separates two cell layers
z Double thickness lamina – both layers produce the
basal lamina
z Filters blood to form urine
7. Fibronectins
z Attach cells to matrices that contain fibrous
collagen
z Essential for migration and cellular differentiation
Tenascin
z Expressed in embryonic tissues, wounds and
tumors
z Plays a role in development
z Modular protein with 6 arms
z Binds to cells via integrins