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Back to basics – how the evolution of the extracellular matrix underpinned vertebrate evolution
Author(s) -
HuxleyJones Julie,
Pinney John W.,
Archer John,
Robertson David L.,
BootHandford Raymond P.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of experimental pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1365-2613
pISSN - 0959-9673
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2613.2008.00637.x
Subject(s) - vertebrate , extracellular matrix , evolutionary biology , biology , genetics , gene
Summary The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex substrate that is involved in and influences a spectrum of behaviours such as growth and differentiation and is the basis for the structure of tissues. Although a characteristic of all metazoans, the ECM has elaborated into a variety of tissues unique to vertebrates, such as bone, tendon and cartilage. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of the molecular evolution of the ECM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ECM genes represent a pivotal family of proteins the evolution of which appears to have played an important role in the evolution of vertebrates.