ABSTRACT
The organization and mechanics of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein polymers determine tissue structure and function. Secreted ECM components are assembled into polymers via a cell-mediated process. The specific mechanisms that cells use for assembly are crucial for generating tissue-appropriate matrices. Fibronectin (FN) is a ubiquitous and abundant ECM protein that is assembled into a fibrillar matrix by a receptor-mediated process, and the FN matrix provides a foundation for incorporation of many other proteins into the ECM. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we describe the domain organization of FN and the events that initiate and propagate a stable insoluble network of FN fibrils. We also discuss intracellular pathways that regulate FN assembly and the impact of changes in assembly on disease progression.
Footnotes
Funding
This work was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 AR073236 to J.E.S.; T32 GM007388, predoctoral training grant), the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (COCR25PDF001, postdoctoral fellowship to Y.S.) and the Sud Cook '39 Fund for the Prevention of Addiction to Alcohol and other Mind-altering Drugs. Deposited in PMC for release after 12 months.
High-resolution poster and poster panels
A high-resolution version of the poster and individual poster panels are available for downloading at https://journals.biologists.com/jcs/article-lookup/doi/10.1242/jcs.263834#supplementary-data.
