Cell

Cell adhesion

Biology

Gene

Embryonic stem cell

Biomedical engineering

Extracellular matrix

Basement membrane

Extracellular

Scaffold

Cell biology

Genetics

Medicine

Development

ABSTRACT As the crucial non-cellular component of tissues, the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides both physical support and signaling regulation to cells. Some ECM molecules provide a fibrillar environment around cells, while others provide a sheet-like basement membrane scaffold beneath epithelial cells. In this Review, we focus on recent studies investigating the mechanical, biophysical and signaling cues provided to developing tissues by different types of ECM in a variety of developing organisms. In addition, we discuss how the ECM helps to regulate tissue morphology during embryonic development by governing key elements of cell shape, adhesion, migration and differentiation.

The extracellular matrix in development