Tendon development requires regulation of cell condensation and cell shape via cadherin-11-mediated cell-cell junctions.

ABSTRACT: The ability of tendon to transmit forces from muscle to bone is directly attributable to an extracellular matrix (ECM) containing parallel bundles of collagen fibrils. Although the biosynthesis of collagen is well characterized, how cells deposit the fibrils in regular parallel arrays is not understood. Here we show that cells in the tendon mesenchyme are nearly cylindrical and are aligned side by side and end to end along the proximal-distal axis of the limb. Using three-dimensional reconstruction electron microscopy, we show that the cells have deep channels in their plasma membranes and contain bundles of parallel fibrils that are contiguous from one cell to another along the tendon axis. A combination of electron microscopy, microarray analysis, and immunofluorescence suggested that th

SUBMITTER: Richardson SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1952157 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature