Cell Adhesion and Extracellular Matrix

Animal Cell-Substratum and Cell-Cell Adhesion

• The Cadherin Resource - "The purpose of the web site is to classify, analyze, interpret, manage and distribute information on the cadherin proteins." (Ikura Lab, Ontario Cancer Institute)
• Cell Biology Web Pages: Adhesion Molecules - Overview of types of adhesion and the molecules involved. (Gwen V. Childs, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) (Just above Beginner's Level)
• The Cell Junctions Website (Cowin Lab, New York University)
  • Adherens Junctions
  • Desmosomes
  • Focal Contacts
  • Gap Junctions
  • Hemidesmosomes
  • Tight Junctions
• Drosophila Cadherin Homepage - "This page provides information about the Drosophila members of the cadherin superfamily and its relation to cadherins in other animals." (Tepass and Godt Labs, University of Toronto)
• Epithelium and Cell Junctions (Kimberly Brown, Vanderbilt University)
• Inflammation: The Leukocyte Adhesion Cascade - Information on luekocyte adhesion and the involvement of integrins, selectins and immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). (Klaus Ley, University of Virginia)
• The Integrin Page - Information on integrins, with specific information on the different α and β subunits.
• The Interactive Fly: Evolutionarily Conserved Pathways (Society for Developmental Biology). Includes sections on:
  • Axon Guidance - "The role of Netrins and the netrin receptor Frazzled."
  • Axon Repulsion - "The role of Semaphorins/collapsins and a downstream target."
  • Compartmentalization - "The roles of Wingless and WNTs in adherens junction dynamics and in the targeting of LIM domain proteins and Engrailed."
  • Septate Junctions and MAGUK Proteins - "Cell-cell interaction and signaling to the interior of cells."
• Junctional Complexes - Images of tight junctions and adherens junctions in epithelial cells. (Atlas of Histology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
• Kimball's Biology Pages: Junctions between Cells - Basic information on cell-cell junctions, adherens junction and desmosomes, as well as tight junctions and gap junctions. (Beginner's Level)
• Wikipedia - Free online encyclopedia with basic overviews. (Beginner's Level)
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Adhesion Proteins
• The Worthington Tissue Dissociation Guide - Introduction to the general characteristics of extracellular matrices associated with various types of tissues.

Extracellular Matrix of Animal Tissues

• The Interactive Fly: Evolutionarily Conserved Pathways: Extracellular Matrix - "Functional conservation of extracellular matrix proteins and cell surface receptors." (Society for Developmental Biology)
• Kimball's Biology Pages: Extracellular Matrix - Connective tissue and composition of the ECM. (Beginner's Level)
• The Medical Biochemistry Page - An excellent biochemistry tutorial with information on a broad range of biochemical pathways. (Michael W. King, Terre Haute Center for Medical Education, Indiana University School of Medicine)
  • Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
  • Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans
• Wikipedia - Free online encyclopedia with basic overviews. (Beginner's Level)
  • Connective Tissue
  • Extracellular Matrix

Bacterial, Fungal and Plant Cell Walls

• The Bacterial Cell Wall - "The bacterial cell wall is a unique structure which surrounds the cell membrane. Although not present in every bacterial species, the cell wall is very important as a cellular component." (University of Texas at Houston - Medical School)
• Kimball's Biology Pages: Plasmodesmata - Pores between plant cells extending through the cell wall. (Beginner's Level)
• Plant Physiology - Cell Walls: Structure & Function - All about plant cell walls. (Stephen G. Saupe, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University)
• Wikipedia - Free online encyclopedia with basic overviews. (Beginner's Level)
  • Cell Wall
  • Cellulose
  • Gram-negative Bacteria
  • Gram-positive Bacteria
  • Hemicellulose
  • Lignin
  • Peptidoglycan

Discussion Groups

• BioChemWeb.org Discussion Board - Discussions and questions/answers for scientists and students.

• CYTONET/bionet.cellbiol.cytonet - Usenet newsgroup for investigators researching the cytoskeleton, plasma membrane, and plant and fungal cell walls. (Usenet newsgroup archives from BIOSCI/bionet; can also be accessed through Google Groups: bionet)

See also the Discussion Groups section of the General Biochemistry and Cell Biology page.

Labs Studying Cell Adhesion or Extracellular Matrix