Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Fibril-associated Collagen

Fibril-associated Collagen

Fibril-associated collagens are a type of collagens present in the extracellular matrix with interrupted triple helices or FACIT (Fibril-associated collagens interrupted triple-helices). FACIT help connect and attach the collagen fibrils with each other as well as with other proteins of the extracellular matrix.
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...

Structural Protein Function

Structural Protein Function

Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity. In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to form...

Collagens are the Major Structural Proteins of ECM

Collagens are the Major Structural Proteins of ECM

Three main types of fibers are secreted by fibroblasts: collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and reticular fibers. Collagen fiber is made from fibrous protein subunits linked together to form a long, straight fiber. Collagen fibers, while flexible, have great tensile strength, resist stretching, and give ligaments and tendons their characteristic resilience and strength. These fibers hold connective tissues together, even during the body's movement.
Connective tissue proper includes loose...

Extracellular Matrix

Extracellular Matrix

Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. This extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of fibrous proteins like collagen, elastin, and fibronectin in a ground substance consisting of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans form a gel-like material in the spaces between cells and provide hydration, buffering, binding, and force...

Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina

Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina

Type IV collagen is a 400 nm long, network-forming collagen that acts as a barrier between the epithelial and endothelial cells. Type IV collagen forms the backbone of the basement membrane by scaffolding with laminin, entactin, proteoglycans, and fibronectin. Apart from rendering structural support to the basement membrane, it also helps entail signaling potentials necessary for both pathological and physiological functions.
A type IV collagen molecule has six alpha chains which can exist in...

Introduction to Connective Tissues

Introduction to Connective Tissues

Connective tissues are one of the four main tissue types in humans that are extensively present in the body. They are characterized by cells embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of a ground substance and three main types of protein fibers— collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers. The ground substance of connective tissues can range from a watery and jelly-like consistency to mineralized and hard. The wide variety of cells in the connective tissues include fibroblasts, osteocytes,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Mutable Collagenous Structure or Not? A Comment on the Re-interpretation by del Castillo et al. of the Catch Mechanism in the Sea Urchin Spine Ligament.

The Biological bulletin·2017

Same author

Correlations between the biochemistry and mechanical states of a sea-urchin ligament: a mutable collagenous structure.

Biointerphases·2012

Same author

Physiological and immunocytochemical evidence that glutamatergic neurotransmission is involved in the activation of arm autotomy in the featherstar Antedon mediterranea (Echinodermata: Crinoidea).

The Journal of experimental biology·2010

Same author

'Autotomy': a terminological inexactitude.

Pain·2006

Same author

Mechanical adaptability of a sponge extracellular matrix: Evidence for cellular control of mesohyl stiffness in Chondrosia reniformis Nardo.

The Journal of experimental biology·2006

Same author

Is muscle involved in the mechanical adaptability of echinoderm mutable collagenous tissue?

The Journal of experimental biology·2002

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

An Improved Method for the Preparation of Type I Collagen From Skin

An Improved Method for the Preparation of Type I Collagen From Skin

Published on: January 21, 2014

Mutable collagenous tissue: overview and biotechnological perspective.

¹Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 OBA, Scotland, UK. i.wilkie@gcal.ac.uk

Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology

|December 13, 2006

Summary

Echinoderm mutable collagenous tissue (MCT) rapidly changes mechanical properties via neural control, crucial for posture and autotomy. This tissue offers potential for new biomaterials and therapies targeting connective tissues.

More Related Videos

Production of Nanofibrillar Patterned Collagen for Tissue Engineering

Production of Nanofibrillar Patterned Collagen for Tissue Engineering

Published on: September 20, 2024

Engineering 3D Cellularized Collagen Gels for Vascular Tissue Regeneration

Engineering 3D Cellularized Collagen Gels for Vascular Tissue Regeneration

Published on: June 16, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

An Improved Method for the Preparation of Type I Collagen From Skin

An Improved Method for the Preparation of Type I Collagen From Skin

Published on: January 21, 2014

Production of Nanofibrillar Patterned Collagen for Tissue Engineering

Production of Nanofibrillar Patterned Collagen for Tissue Engineering

Published on: September 20, 2024

Engineering 3D Cellularized Collagen Gels for Vascular Tissue Regeneration

Engineering 3D Cellularized Collagen Gels for Vascular Tissue Regeneration

Published on: June 16, 2015

Area of Science:

Marine Biology
Biomaterials Science
Biophysics

Background:

Mutable collagenous tissue (MCT) in echinoderms exhibits rapid, neurally controlled changes in mechanical properties.
This unique tissue is vital for echinoderm posture maintenance and autotomy across all classes.
Understanding MCT's physiology and molecular mechanisms is key to its biological significance.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize current knowledge on the physiology and organization of echinoderm MCT.
To detail the molecular organization and mechanism underlying MCT's mutability.
To explore the biotechnological potential of MCT for therapeutic and material applications.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on echinoderm mutable collagenous tissue.
Analysis of physiological and molecular data on MCT.
Discussion of potential applications based on MCT properties.

Main Results:

MCT allows for rapid (seconds to minutes) alterations in passive mechanical properties.
Neural control coordinates MCT changes with muscle activity.
MCT is implicated in echinoderm autotomy and energy-sparing posture maintenance.

Conclusions:

MCT is a critical biological feature in echinoderms with significant implications for their survival and function.
The molecular mechanisms of MCT mutability warrant further investigation.
MCT presents promising avenues for developing novel pharmacological agents and biomedical composite materials.