Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi form highly diverse communities in temperate forests, but little is known about their community ecology in tropical ecosystems. Using anatomotyping and rDNA sequencing, ECM fungi were identified on root tips of the introduced Eucalyptus robusta and Pinus caribea as well as the endemic Vateriopsis seychellarum and indigenous Intsia bijuga in the Seychelles. Sequencing...

Epithelial cell behavior is coordinated by the composition of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM); thus ECM protein identification is critical for understanding normal biology and disease states. Proteomic analyses of ECM proteins have been hindered by the insoluble and digestion-resistant nature of ECM. Here we explore the utility of combining rapid ultrasonication- and surfactant-assis...

During breast carcinoma progression, the three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment is continuously remodeled, and changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) occur. High throughput screening platforms have been used to decipher the complexity of the microenvironment and to identify ECM components responsible for cancer progression. However, traditional screening platforms are typ...

Expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components during differentiation of pre-existing preadipocytes and preadipocytes recruited by dexamethasone (DEX) was examined with immunocytochemistry in primary cultures of adipose tissue stromal vascular (S-V) cells. Immunocytochemistry showed that a small proportion of preadipocytes (AD-3+) in 24-h cultures (d 0 to 1) contained lipid or expressed EC...

Chronic exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) induces photoaging, and ultimately photocarcinogenesis. Senescent human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) in UVB stress-induced premature senescence (UVB-SIPS) share a similar extracellular matrix (ECM) phenotype with other types of senescent fibroblast. ECM from senescent fibroblasts induced by a variety of stresses has been shown to promote preneopla...

The organization of cells into epithelium depends on cell interaction with both the extracellular matrix (ECM) and adjacent cells. The role of cell-cell adhesion in the regulation of epithelial topology is well-described. ECM is better known to promote cell migration and provide a structural scaffold for cell anchoring, but its contribution to multicellular morphogenesis is less well-understood...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a fundamental component of multicellular organisms that provides mechanical and chemical cues that orchestrate cellular and tissue organization and functions. Degradation, hyperproduction or alteration of the composition of the ECM cause or accompany numerous pathologies. Thus, a better characterization of ECM composition, metabolism, and biology can lead to th...

The interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential during development. To elucidate the function of ECM proteins on cell differentiation, we developed biomimetic surfaces that display specific ECM peptide motifs in a controlled manner. Presentation of ECM domains for collagen, fibronectin, and laminin influenced the formation of neurites by differentiating PC12 cells....

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral component of both the normal and tumor microenvironment. ECM composition varies between tissues and is crucial for maintaining normal function and homeostasis. Dysregulation and aberrant deposition or loss of ECM component...