Regulation of protrusive and contractile cell-matrix contacts.
The extracellular matrix is vital for tissue organisation in multicellular organisms. Cells attach to the extracellular matrix at discrete points on the cell surface, termed cell-matrix contacts. In general molecular terms, these contacts are assembled from large multiprotein complexes. However, many forms of matrix contacts can be distinguished by microscopy or by biochemical criteria, and these fulfil a diverse range of roles associated with cell adhesion, guidance, migration, matrix assembly, differentiation and survival. Two major functional categories are the protrusive and contractile matrix contacts. I describe contexts for the formation of protrusive or contractile contacts and discuss recent information on the molecular processes by which these contacts are specified, coordinated and regulated at a cellular level.
Adams
Josephine Clare
JC
MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. dmcbjca@ucl.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D003285:Contractile Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances