Extracellular Matrix News Volume 4.31 | Aug 8 2013

Fibronectin Expression in Glioblastomas Promotes Cell Cohesion, Collective Invasion of Basement Membrane In Vitro and Orthotopic Tumor Growth in Mice
Scientists sought to examine the expression of tumor cell fibronectin and address its possible involvement in the invasive phenotype of glioblastoma multiforme. [Oncogene] Abstract

Urine Proteomes of Healthy Aging Humans Reveal Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Alterations and Immune System Dysfunction
Urine samples from 37 healthy volunteers aged 19–90 years were analyzed for protein expression by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This generated a list of 19 proteins that were differentially expressed in different age groups. In particular, the oldest group showed protein changes reflective of altered ECM turnover and declining immune function, in which changes corresponded to reported changes in cardiovascular tissue remodeling and immune disorders in the elderly. [Age] Abstract

Connective Tissue Growth Factor Induces Collagen I Expression in Human Lung Fibroblasts through the Rac1/MLK3/JNK/AP-1 Pathway
Scientists investigated the role of Rac1, mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in connective tissue growth factor-induced collagen I expression in human lung fibroblasts. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Serine-Threonine Kinase Receptor Associated Protein (STRAP) Regulates Translation of Type I Collagen mRNAs
The authors showed that STRAP is tethered to collagen mRNAs by interaction with LARP6. LARP6 is a protein which directly binds the 5’ stem-loop (5’SL) present in collagen α1(I) and α2(I) mRNAs, but it interacts with STRAP with its C-Terminal domain which is not involved in binding 5’SL. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

Development of an In Vitro Cell System from Zebrafish Suitable to Study Bone Cell Differentiation and Extracellular Matrix Mineralization
Mechanisms of bone formation and skeletal development have been successfully investigated in zebrafish using a variety of in vivo approaches, but in vitro studies have been hindered due to a lack of homologous cell lines capable of producing an extracellular matrix suitable for mineral deposition. Here investigators describe the development and characterization of a new cell line termed ZFB1, derived from zebrafish calcified tissues. [Zebrafish] Abstract

Cell Surface Sialic Acid Modulates Extracellular Matrix Adhesion and Migration in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cells
Tumor cells modulate their extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion and migration to become more metastatic. Moreover, they show an increase in sialic acid, which could have an effect on their ECM adhesion and migration. Scientists describe the influence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell surface [alpha]2,3- and [alpha]2,6-sialic acid determinants on the aforementioned processes. [Pancreas] Abstract

Optimization and Use of Humanized RBL NF-AT-GFP and NF-AT-DsRed Reporter Cell Lines Suitable for High-Throughput Scale Detection of Allergic Sensitisation in Array Format and Identification of the ECM-Integrin Interaction as Critical Factor
The authors previously described a microarray platform combining live basophils with protein arrays suitable for high-throughput detection of sensitization against allergens. During optimization of this technique, they observed severe losses of adhering cells during the washing steps, particularly after activation. In order to preserve cell binding, they tested the cell adhesion characteristics of different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins: human collagen I, fibronectin from bovine plasma and laminin. [Mol Biotechnol] Full Article

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Grant to Support Commercialization of Technology to Repair Skin Injuries
The Chemical Alliance Zone’s Chemicals and Materials Commercialization Fund has awarded $20,000 to a Marshall University scientist to help bring to market a technology he has developed for repairing skin injuries. The award to Dr. Jingwei Xie of the Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research will help Xie’s research team produce device prototypes and samples, market to potential customers and conduct patent analysis. [Marshall University] Press Release

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PhD Position – Molecular Biomechanics of α-Actin Remodeling (Eindhoven University of Technology)

PhD Position – Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine (Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia)

PhD Position – Molecular Cell Biology (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanisms Contributing to Metastases of Breast Cancer Cells (Mount Sinai Medical Center/Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Assistant/Associate Professor Position – Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (Universite de Montreal)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

PhD Position – 3D Structured Self-Assembled Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering (Delft University of Technology)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering (Weizmann Institute of Science)

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