4.19 The extracellular matrix of animal cells functions in support and regulation – Flashcards

Is usually regarded as the boundary of the living cell, but most cells synthesize and secrete material that remain outside the plasma membrane.

(ECM) This layer helps hold cells together in tissues and protects and supports the plasma membrane. The main components of the ECM are glycoproteins.

Proteins bonded with carbohydrates.

The most abundant glycoprotein. It forms strong fibers outside the cell. In face, collagen accounts for about 40% of the protein in your body. The collagen fibers are embedded in a network woven from other types of glycoproteins. Large complexes form when hundreds of small glycoproteins connect to a central long polysaccharide molecule.

Span the membrane, attaching on the other side to proteins connected to microfilaments of the cytoskeleton. They transmit signals between the ECM and the cytoskeleton, thus the cytoskeleton can influence the organization of the ECM and vice versa.