BIOL107 Lecture 6: Lecture 6 ExtraCell Student 15

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Biology (Biological Sciences)
• Course: BIOL107
• Professor: Torah Kachur

Document Summary

Focus: in multicellular animal tissues all cells cannot just float around on their own and form the complicated body structure. Coordination and communication between cells in tissues is accomplished by the extracellular matrix the ecm is the reason why when you pull on your skin it stays together! As well, direct cell contact is maintained by specialized junctions that hold cells together, for example tight junctions and adherence junctions. Define: ecm, integrin, collagen, desmosome, tight junction, gap junction, connexins, intermediate filament. Describe the function and importance of the extracellular matrix. Outline the functions of each type of intercellular junction. Function: maintains cell shape and prevents excess uptake of water. Other plant cell specific structures: animal extracellular matrix (ecm) Function: maintains cell attachments across long distances, allows communication, maintains tissue integrity, stores growth factors. Fibronectin protein linker between collagen and integrin.