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

The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

Overview
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...

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...

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

Integrins

Integrins

Animal and protozoan cells do not have cell walls to help maintain shape and provide structural stability. Instead, these eukaryotic cells secrete a sticky mass of carbohydrates and proteins into the spaces between adjacent cells. This network of proteins and molecules is called an extracellular matrix or ECM.
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Identifying and reprogramming softness-driven cancer stem-like cells overcomes CAR-T cell resistance in solid tumours.

Nature biomedical engineering·2026

Same author

Primer PICKR: literature-mined scoring platform for robust RT-qPCR primers.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

In Memoriam: Richard O. Hynes (1944-2026).

Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology·2026

Same author

Stiffness-mediated paracrine signaling enhances induction of EMT in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

APL bioengineering·2025

Same author

A novel fibronectin-binding peptide reveals dynamic intermediate structures during matrix assembly.

Scientific reports·2025

Same author

Durotaxis is a driver and potential therapeutic target in lung fibrosis and metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Nature cell biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Comparative Study of Basement-Membrane Matrices for Human Stem Cell Maintenance and Intestinal Organoid Generation

Comparative Study of Basement-Membrane Matrices for Human Stem Cell Maintenance and Intestinal Organoid Generation

Published on: March 15, 2024

Defined extracellular matrix components are necessary for definitive endoderm induction.

Hermes Taylor-Weiner¹, Jean E Schwarzbauer, Adam J Engler

¹Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA.

Stem Cells (Dayton, Ohio)

|June 15, 2013

Summary

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins like fibronectin (FN) and laminin influence mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation. FN is essential for pluripotency loss, while laminin enhances definitive endoderm formation.

Keywords:

Endoderm development Extracellular matrix Integrin signaling Mouse embryonic stem cells

More Related Videos

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Pancreatic Beta-Cell Precursors in a 2D Culture System

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Pancreatic Beta-Cell Precursors in a 2D Culture System

Published on: December 16, 2021

A Quick and Efficient Method for the Purification of Endoderm Cells Generated from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

A Quick and Efficient Method for the Purification of Endoderm Cells Generated from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: March 3, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Comparative Study of Basement-Membrane Matrices for Human Stem Cell Maintenance and Intestinal Organoid Generation

Comparative Study of Basement-Membrane Matrices for Human Stem Cell Maintenance and Intestinal Organoid Generation

Published on: March 15, 2024

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Pancreatic Beta-Cell Precursors in a 2D Culture System

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Pancreatic Beta-Cell Precursors in a 2D Culture System

Published on: December 16, 2021

A Quick and Efficient Method for the Purification of Endoderm Cells Generated from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

A Quick and Efficient Method for the Purification of Endoderm Cells Generated from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: March 3, 2016

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Biomaterials Science

Background:

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation typically relies on growth factors.
Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including fibronectin (FN) and laminin, are present in the ESC niche and may also direct cell fate.
The role of assembled ECM proteins in regulating ESC differentiation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how fibrillar ECM proteins, specifically FN and laminin, regulate mouse ESC fate and differentiation.
To determine the extent to which ECM composition influences pluripotency maintenance and lineage commitment.

Main Methods:

Analysis of mouse ESC embryoid bodies (EBs) cultured in various conditions.
Assessment of pluripotency marker (Nanog) and lineage marker (GATA4) expression.
Comparison of differentiation on ESC-derived matrix versus fibroblast-derived matrix, with and without exogenous laminin.

Main Results:

Soluble FN impaired pluripotency marker expression in EBs.
FN expression correlated with definitive endoderm (DE) marker GATA4 and inversely with pluripotency marker Nanog.
ESC-derived matrix composition influenced differentiation, with laminin enhancing DE differentiation in a dose-dependent and α3 integrin-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

Fibrillar fibronectin is necessary for the loss of pluripotency in mouse ESCs.
Laminin, when incorporated into a fibronectin matrix, promotes definitive endoderm differentiation.
ECM composition plays a critical role in directing ESC fate, complementing the effects of soluble growth factors.