[Adhesive glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix]

Glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix and basement membrane play crucial role in cell recognition, adhesion, migration and proliferation. Morphogenesis and tissue and organ development in embryo, as well as healing processes in adults are dependent on the interactions of extracellular proteins with cell surface receptors. In this paper the structure and function of major adhesive proteins: fibronectin, tenascin, laminin and nidogen are reviewed. Recent data on the role of small leucine-rich and modular proteoglycans, such as decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin, versican, perlecan, neurocan, agrecan, agrin and other are given. Modifications of the expression and localization of extracellular glycoproteins in pathology are also presented.