Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2169695 Current Opinion in Cell Biology 2016 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

Microbial biofilms and most eukaryotic tissues consist of cells embedded in a three-dimensional extracellular matrix. This matrix serves as a scaffold for cell adhesion and a dynamic milieu that provides varying chemical and physical signals to the cells. Besides a vast array of specific molecular components, an extracellular matrix can provide locally heterogeneous microenvironments differing in porosity/diffusion, stiffness, pH, oxygen and metabolites or nutrient levels. Mechanisms of matrix formation, mechanosensing, matrix remodeling, and modulation of cell–cell or cell–matrix interactions and dispersal are being revealed. This perspective article aims to identify such concepts from the fields of biofilm or eukaryotic matrix biology relevant to the other field to help stimulate new questions, approaches, and insights.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Cell Biology
Authors
, ,