Stretching is good for a cell
Ruoslahti, E.
Science 276(5317): 1345-1346
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-8075 PMID: 9190676 Document Number: 480238
Cells in tissues are attached to each other and to the fibrillar protein meshwork called the extracellular matrix (ECM). Most cells need this attachment and the ensuing spreading on the ECM substrate for proper growth, function, and survival--without it they often die by undergoing apoptosis. The dependence of cells on substrate attachment is known as anchorage dependence. The writer discusses the significant advance in the understanding of how anchorage dependence works reported by C. S. Chen et al. in this issue.