Extracellular Matrix News Volume 3.10 | Mar 15 2012

In Situ Supramolecular Assembly and Modular Modification of Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Three-Dimensional Cellular Engineering
Here, researchers suggest cucurbit[6]uril conjugated/diaminohexane conjugated hyaluronic acid hydrogels might be successfully exploited as a three-dimensional artificial extracellular matrix for various tissue engineering applications. [ACS Nano] Abstract

Laminin Active Peptide/Agarose Matrices as Multifunctional Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering
Here, researchers prepared functional polysaccharide matrices by mixing laminin active peptides and agarose gel. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Biophysical Control of Invasive Tumor Cell Behavior by Extracellular Matrix Microarchitecture
Using confocal reflectance microscopy and image autocorrelation analysis to quantitatively assess gel microarchitecture, researchers show that additional polymerization parameters including culture media formulation and gel thickness significantly affect the dimensions and organization of fibers and pores in collagen gels. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Binding of Lassa Virus Perturbs Extracellular Matrix-Induced Signal Transduction via Dystroglycan
Dystroglycan (DG) is a ubiquitous receptor for extracellular matrix proteins, which cooperates with β1 integrins to control cell-matrix interactions. Here, researchers investigated whether arenavirus Lassa virus binding to DG triggers signal transduction, mimicking the natural ligands. [Cell Microbiol] Abstract

Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix Enables Survival and Multi-Lineage Differentiation within Superporous Hydrogels
Intriguingly, researchers’ previous findings revealed that poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate superporous hydrogel scaffolds allow anchorage of bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cells and support their long-term survival. Here, they hypothesized that the physicochemical characteristics of the scaffold impart properties that could foster cellular responses. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

The Orphan Histidine Protein Kinase SgmT Is a Cyclic-Dimeric-GMP Receptor and Regulates Composition of the Extracellular Matrix Together with the Orphan DNA Binding Response Regulator DigR in Myxococcus xanthus
Proteins of two-component systems, including the orphan DNA binding response regulator DigR, are essential in regulating the composition of the extracellular matrix. Here, researchers identify the orphan hybrid histidine kinase SgmT as the partner kinase of DigR. [Mol Microbiol] Abstract

Modification of Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Module 1 of Thrombospondin-1, an Animal Extracellular Protein, by O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine
Researchers’ results demonstrate that O-β-N-acetylglucosaminylation can occur on secreted extracellular matrix proteins as well as on cell surface proteins. [PLoS One] Abstract

Cartilage Repair Gel Gives Injuries a Sporting Chance
A cartilage gel being developed by tissue engineers and biochemists could bring increased mobility to people living with debilitating sports injuries. [University of Sydney] Press Release

Student Innovation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Seeks to Mend Previously Untreatable Tissue Injuries
Christopher Rivet has successfully married two powerful bioengineering technologies to develop a new method for delivering drugs directly to an injury site and jumpstarting the process of tissue regeneration. Rivet is one of three finalists for the 2012 $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Rensselaer Student Prize. [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute] Press Release

Organogenesis Inc. Announced FDA Approval of GINTUIT™ for Oral Soft Tissue Regeneration
Organogenesis Inc. announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved GINTUIT™ (Allogeneic Cultured Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts in Bovine Collagen). [Organogenesis Inc.] Press Release

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)
 
European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)/Pfizer Ophthalmics Research Institute 8^th Annual Conference – Aqueous Humor Outflow: Dynamics and Disease
May 4-5, 2012
Fort Lauderdale, United States

NEW Cell Adhesion Meeting, Bordeaux 2012 – Biology of Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Contacts: Biophysics, Dynamics, and Signaling
May 24-25, 2012
Talence, France

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the extracellular matrix community.

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – hPSC Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Antibody and Hybridoma Technology Platforms (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Business Analyst – Product Management (STEMSOFT Software, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

PhD and Postdoctoral Positions (Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology) 

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Biology (Institute for Systems Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Medical Research Council) 

Postdoctoral Position (Thomas Jefferson University)

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