Where is ECM found in the body?

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an insoluble group of molecules produced by most cells and found between homotypic cells at their lateral borders and between heterotypic cells at their basal borders.

What are the components of the ECM?

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an extensive molecule network composed of three major components: protein, glycosaminoglycan, and glycoconjugate. ECM components, as well as cell adhesion receptors, interact with each other forming a complex network into which cells reside in all tissues and organs.

Where are ECM proteins made?

Components of the ECM are produced intracellularly by resident cells and secreted into the ECM via exocytosis. Once secreted, they then aggregate with the existing matrix. The ECM is composed of an interlocking mesh of fibrous proteins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

What are the functions of the extracellular matrix?

The extracellular matrix helps cells to bind together and regulates a number of cellular functions, such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. It is formed by macromolecules, locally secreted by resident cells.

Which is the most abundant matrix protein in the body?

The structural proteins, collagen and elastin, are the dominant matrix proteins. At least 10 different types of collagen are present in various tissues. The most common, type I collagen, is the most abundant protein in vertebrate animals, accounting for nearly 25 percent of the total protein in the body.

What do the numbers mean in a multi organ proteomic landscape?

The outermost (first) ring represents the type of samples. The number of samples and patients (n/N) is labeled respectively. The second ring (in blue) refers to the missing/undetected proteins for each organ. The numbers in black represent the quantified proteins in the specific organ. The third ring (in light green) refers to unregulated proteins.

Which is a cross linked protein in the extracellular matrix?

Elastin is also a cross-linked protein, but, instead of forming rigid coils, it imparts elasticity to tissues. Only one type of elastin is known; it varies in elasticity according to variations in its cross-linking. The adhesive proteins of the extracellular matrix bind matrix molecules to one another and to cell surfaces.

How are tissues used in a multi-layer network?

Individual tissue networks act as layers in a multi-layer network, where we use a hierarchy to model dependencies between the layers (i.e., tissues).