Fibronectin matrix assembly at a glance
Yu Sun, Aaron J. Hamlin, Jean E. Schwarzbauer
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.