A collagenous extracellular matrix regulates germline gene expression in the sea star embryo.

ABSTRACT: The sea star Patiria miniata uses cell-cell signaling mechanisms in the inductive process of germline formation and here we test if these cells require the extracellular matrix (ECM) in this process. The ECM is a network of proteins and long-chain sugar polymers necessary for structural support, cell signaling, and migration. Collagen is a fundamental component of the ECM network that provides tensile strength and structural integrity, in addition to interacting with other proteins such as laminin and integrins. Here we used β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), a well-known inhibitor of lysyl oxidase (LOX; an enzyme important for cross-linking mature collagen), a morpholino antisense oligonucleotide to LOX2A, and Col003, an inhibitor of collagen processing to test for a role of the collagen-based

SUBMITTER: Reyes G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12541058 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature