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Tenascin: a potential modulator of cell‐extracellular matrix interactions during vertebrate embryogenesis
Author(s) -
Riou JeanFrançois,
Umbhauer Muriel,
Shi De Li,
Boucaut JeanClaude
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1016/0248-4900(92)90118-k
Subject(s) - tenascin , biology , fibronectin , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular matrix , neural crest , mesenchyme , tenascin c , cell adhesion , neurite , glycoprotein , notochord , mesenchymal stem cell , embryo , embryogenesis , cell , genetics , in vitro
Summary— Tenascin is a large oligomeric extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein whose expression is highly restricted during vertebrate development. It has a characteristic hexameric quatenary structure with six arms linked to a central globular domain. Each arm contains a single polypeptide with the central globular domain formed by the covalent association of the N‐terminal ends of the six polypeptides. Tenascin first appears during development, associated with the neural crest cell migration pathways of mammalian, avian and amphibian embryos. During later development, it is observed at sites of cartilage, bone and tendon formation. Tenascin expression also occurs in defined areas in the developing nervous system and in condensing mesenchyme, in response to epithelio‐mesenchymal interactions. The function of tenascin in these different morphogenetic processess is not yet clearly understood. Tenascin can promote neurite outgrowth in vitro and can inhibit cell interactions with fibronectin. Results based on antibody mapping and molecular cloning indicate that these properties involve two distinct cell binding sites. Together with its highly regulated expression in the embryo, these properties suggest that tenascin plays a key role in the control of cell migration and differentiation during development.