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[Phylogenesis of the extracellular matrix]
R Garrone1, J Y Exposito, J M Franc
1Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, CNRS UPR 412, Université Claude-Bernard, Lyon, France.
Comptes Rendus Des Seances De La Societe De Biologie Et De Ses Filiales
|January 1, 1993
Summary
The extracellular matrix, crucial for cell cohesion and behavior, has conserved collagen structures throughout animal evolution. Primitive collagens in invertebrates likely preceded vertebrate collagen types and adhesive molecules.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Biochemistry
- Cell biology
Context:
- The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a vital component of multicellular organisms, facilitating cell cohesion and regulating cell behavior.
- ECM is present across the animal kingdom, originating at the dawn of multicellular life.
- Collagen fibrils represent the most consistent element within the ECM.
Purpose:
- To investigate the evolutionary conservation and functional significance of extracellular matrix components, particularly collagens, in primitive animals.
- To trace the evolutionary origins of vertebrate collagen types and other ECM molecules from invertebrate precursors.
Summary:
- Fibrillar collagens in sponges and sea urchins show remarkable evolutionary conservation, suggesting fundamental roles and likely acting as precursors to vertebrate minor fibrillar collagens (e.g., type V).
- Non-fibrillar collagens with interrupted triple helices, found in sponges, are considered precursors to basement membrane collagens, fibril-associated collagens (FACITs), and epithelial collagens.
- Primitive ECMs contained adhesive molecules like fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin, mediating cell-matrix interactions, alongside proteoglycans.
Impact:
- Understanding the evolutionary trajectory of ECM components provides insights into the fundamental mechanisms of multicellularity.
- Identifies primitive collagen types as evolutionary precursors, offering a deeper understanding of collagen diversity and function in vertebrates.
- Highlights the ancient roles of ECM molecules in structural support, adhesion, and cell communication, predating vertebrate-specific innovations like mineralized collagen and elastin.