BIO-1801 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Ultimate Tensile Strength, Primary Cell, Extracellular Matrix
Document Summary
Single organism composed of more than one cell. Main benefit from the division of labor. Additional proteins for: cell communication, arrangement and attachment of cells, cell specialization. Network of material secreted from the cells forming a complex meshwork outside of cells. Major component of certain parts of plants and animals: bone and cartilage of animals, woody parts of plants. Animal cells secrete ecm that helps to support and organize cells. Major macromolecules of are proteins and polysaccharides: proteins form large fibers, polysaccharides give a gel-like character. Important roles such as strength, structural support, organization, and cell signaling. Adhesive: fibronectin and laminin, adhere ecm components together and to the cell surface. Main protein found in bone, cartilage, tendon, skin: elastin provides elasticity. In vertebrates, the most abundant are glycosaminoglycans (gags: long, unbranched polysaccharides with a repeating disaccharide unit, highly negatively charge attracts positive ions and water. Gags and proteoglycans resist compression: form gel-like component.
