1. Chapter 19: Cell junctions and the extracellular matrix
Know the terminology:
Cadherins, integrins, tight junction, desmosome, adhesion belt, hemidesmosome, gap junction, connexin/connexan,
Basal lamina, connective tissue, fibroblast, proteoglycan, GAG (glycosaminoglycan), hyaluronin, aggrecan, collagen, fibronectin,

2. Overview Multicellular organisms combine cells into tissues.
Extracellular matrix is a complex network of macromolecules (proteins, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans) secreted by cells
Specialized ECMs include connective tissue, basal lamina, exoskeletons, cartilage/bones,
Tissues are formed from cell-cell connections and cell-matrix connections.

3. Tissue composition

4. Outline How are cells organized into tissues? I. Cell junctions
-types of cell junctions
-tight junctions, adherans junctions, desmosomes, focal adhesions, hemidesmosomes, gap junctions
II. Extracellular matrix proteins
-types of ECM macromolecules
-synthesis and properties of hyaluronan, aggrecan, collagen, fibronectin

5. Cell junctions Three types of cell junctions:
1. Occluding junctions: seal cells together into sheets (forming an impermeable barrier)
2. Anchoring junctions: attach cells (and their cytoskeleton) to other cells or extracellular matrix (providing mechanical support)
3. Communicating junctions: allow exchange of chemical/electrical information between cells

6. Example: Tight junctions of intestinal epithelium
Occluding junctions
Example: Tight junctions of intestinal epithelium

7. Tight junction
Each cell possesses integral membrane proteins that bind to similar proteins in the adjacent, forming a continuous “weld”

8. Anchoring junctions
Integral membrane proteins connect a cell’s cytoskeleton to another cell or extracellular matrix

9. Anchoring junctions
Integral membrane proteins connect a cell’s cytoskeleton to another cell or extracellular matrix

10. Anchoring junctions Cytoskeletal fibers (MF, intermediate filaments)
connect to a
Membrane protein receptor
which attaches to another protein in either:
-the extracellular matrix or
-another cell membrane

11. Cadherins and desmosomes
Cell to cell connections are mediated by cadherins.
These receptors extend out from the cell, binding to other cadherens

12. Cadherins participiate in adherens junctions
Under the cell membrane, contractile fibers of microfilaments connect to cell membrane proteins called cadherins
They surround the cell, forming a belt

13. Cadherins can also form localized spot connections
Desmosomes
Cadherins can also form localized spot connections
Cadherins attach to intermediate filaments via anchoring proteins: a desmosome

14. Cells-to-ECM attachments: Focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes
Cytoskeletal fibers attach to transmembrane receptors (integrins) that are attached to extracellular matrix components
Focal adhesions use MF
Hemidesmosomes use IF

15. Gap junctions
Gap junctions allow cells to exchange electrical and/or chemical signals
Composed of proteins that form channels that allow small molecules to pass.
Subunits of these channels are connexins that are assembled together to make connexons. The connexons from 2 cells join together to make a gap junction.

16. Gap junctions

17. Regulation of connectivity
When might a cell want to alter its connections to other cells?
How do cells alter these connections?
-alter the profile of cytoskeletal connections, receptors, and extracellular matrix
-alter the binding affinity of receptors
-many are Ca2+ dependent
-many are affected by protein kinases

18. Summary

19. Summary

20. Extracellular matrix
A network of proteins, glycosoaminoglycans (GAGs) and combinations of the two (proteoglycan) found in the extracellular space
All ECM components are secreted by cells
Most cells can secrete elements of the ECM but many ECMs are built by fibroblasts
Examples of ECM:
-connective tissue, basal lamina, cartilage, bone, plant/fungi cell walls, myelin sheath,

21. Basal lamina

22. Connective tissue

23. Connective tissue

24. Components of the extracellular matrix
Proteins/glycoproteins (secreted by co-translational import) differ in physical properties (e.g. size, flexibility) and are able to bind to different combinations of macromolecules on cell membranes (e.g. integrins, cadherins) and other ECM elements
Examples include:
-collagen, elastin, fibronectin, laminin

25. Components of the extracellular matrix
Proteins can provide elastic properties in many tissues (e.g. elastin)

26. Components of the extracellular matrix
GAGs differ in physical properties (e.g. size, flexibility, hydration).
Composed of repeating sugar + amino sugar units (e.g. N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine)
They occur in long strings, often attached to proteins
Examples include:
-hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, heparan sulfate, keratan sulfate

27. GAGs
GAGs attract a great deal of water. Hydroxyl groups form hydrogen bonds, and the many negative charges attract clouds of cations (Na+) that induce an osmotic movement of water. These hydrated gels resist compression (useful for joints).

28. Components of the extracellular matrix
Proteoglycans (made of both proteins and GAGs) also differ in physical properties
Synthesized in Golgi prior to secretion
In addition to structural roles, proteoglycans can also bind hormones (e.g., inflammatory chemokines, FGF, TGFb) to alter cell signaling pathways
Examples include:
-decoran, aggrecan (the main component of cartilage)

29. ECM proteins, GAGs, and proteoglycans
Green-protein
Red-GAG

30. Hyaluronan
Very simple GAG, consisting of 10,000+ repeats of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine
Spun directly from cell membranes by a surface enzyme complex
Attracts water and fills spaces between cells with non-compressible gel (found around joints)
Some cells secrete it to isolate themselves from other cells (e.g. myoblasts). These cells can secrete hyaluronidase to break it down, allowing contact

31. Hyaluronan
Very long macromolecule that hydrates and fills enormous volumes

32. Aggrecan
One of the largest macromolecules, consisting of a core protein with GAGs attached to form a feather-like appearance.

33. Aggrecan
An aggrecan core protein is very large but also binds many (different) GAGs (shown in red)

34. Aggrecan aggregates
Each aggrecan can be attached to a hyaluronan backbone to form an aggrecan aggregate

35. Collagen
All multicellular animals possess collagens, often with many different collagen genes
Synthesized as pro-collagen monomers (pro-a collagen)
Peptide modified by hydroxylation and glycosylation
Prior to secretion they self- assemble into trimers
Upon secretion the trimers are processed by proteolytic enzymes then assemble into fibrils

38. Collagen fibers
Collagen proteins (trimers) are then cross-linked to form collagen fibers (stiff, not very elastic)

39. Fibronectin
Animals have a single fibronectin gene that can be alternatively spiced into 40+ forms.
Different exons are able to bind different proteins/GAGs (e.g. integrins, collagen, etc)
Fibronectin dimerizes using 2 similar (not identical) monomers

40. Fibronectin

41. Control of ECM
Cells control the synthesis of ECM by altering gene expression and co-translational import and secretion
They also control the degradation of the ECM by secreting and activating/inactivating extracellular enzymes.
Most important are a group of serine proteases called matrix metalloproteinases

42. MMPs
Cells that need to migrate must first break down the connections to the ECM (e.g. tissue repair, metastasis of tumors)
MMPs can be:
-secreted in active form (collagenase)
-secreted as inactive form (e.g. plasminogen is inactive until it is modified by “plasminogen activators)
-activated when cells stop secreting TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases)