Cell biology

Biology

Extracellular matrix

Computational biology

Evolutionary biology

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

Completion of genome sequences for many organisms allows a reasonably complete definition of the complement of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In mammals this “core matrisome” comprises 300 proteins. In addition there are large numbers of ECMmodifying enzymes, ECM-binding growth factors, and other ECM-associated proteins. These different categories of ECM and ECM-associated proteins cooperate to assemble and remodelextracellularmatricesandbindtocellsthroughECMreceptors.TogetherwithreceptorsforECM-boundgrowthfactors,theyprovidemultipleinputsintocellstocontrolsurvival, proliferation, differentiation, shape, polarity, and motilityof cells. The evolution of ECM proteins was key in the transition to multicellularity, the arrangement of cells into tissue layers, and the elaboration of novel structures during vertebrate evolution. This key role of ECM is reflectedinthediversityofECMproteinsandthemodulardomainstructuresofECMproteins both allow their multiple interactions and, during evolution, development of novel protein architectures.

Overview of the Matrisome--An Inventory of Extracellular Matrix Constituents and Functions