Several key components make up the ECM, each with unique functions:
1. Collagen: The most abundant ECM protein, providing tensile strength to tissues. 2. Elastin: Allows tissues to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. 3. Fibronectin: Involved in cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation. 4. Laminin: Crucial for the structural scaffolding of tissues and cellular differentiation. 5. Proteoglycans: Contribute to the ECM’s gel-like properties and regulate the activity of growth factors.
