Lesson 3.

2: Interaction Between Cells and the

Extracellular Matrix

Lesson Summary
Extracellular components and connections between cells help coordinate cellular activities.

Learning Outcomes
1. Explain how cells “communicate” with each other.
2. Describe selected types of extracellular matrices.

Motivation Question
How do cells get to know each other?

Discussion

Cell Junctions

Cell-to-cell adhesions are mediated by a variety of integral membrane proteins. Strong adhesions
between cells are enabled by the formation of specialized adherens junctions and desmosomes.
Tight junctions are specialized sites of contact that block the diffusion of solutes between cells
in an epithelium. Gap junctions and plasmodesmata are specialized sites of communication
between neighboring cells in animals and plants, respectively.
Figure 1. The membrane junctions in animal cells. (Photo adapted from Raven et al., Biology,
9th ed.)

Figure 2. Plasmodesmata (a. Photo adapted

from Raven et al., Biology, 9th ed., b. Photo
adapted from Reece et al., Campbell Biology,
9th ed.)

b
Cell Communication

Cell signaling in multicellular organisms is accomplished through the interaction of a

signaling molecule called ligand and a receptor protein. Their interaction initiates the signal
transduction, which converts the information in the signal into a cellular response.

Figure 3. Generalized mechanism of cell signaling. (Photo adapted from Raven et al., Biology,
9th ed.)

Types of signaling are defined by the distance from the source and falls under five
categories namely— (1) direct contact, (2) paracrine signaling, (3) endocrine signaling, (4) synaptic
signaling, (5) autocrine signaling.

Figure 4. Types of cell signalling. (Photo adapted from Raven et al., Biology, 9 th ed.)

Autocrine signaling (not shown in the figure) is the type of signaling, in which the cells
send signal to themselves. This process is important for the developmental changes of the cell.
Extracellular Environment

Cell walls located external to the cell membrane provides protection to the cells of
plants, fungi, and prokaryotes. They are made of cellulose, chitin, and peptidoglycan,
respectively.
Figure 5. Structure of cell walls in
plant cells. (Photo adapted from
Raven et al., Biology, 9th ed.)

Animal cells on the other hand have an extracellular matrix that is composed of various
glycoproteins that give the cells support, strength, and resilience.

Figure 6. Structure of extracellular matrix in animal cells. (Photo adapted from Reece et al.,
Campbell Biology, 9th ed.)
Learning Tasks/Activities
1. Access the following sites for further information:
a. https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Cell-to-Cell-Communication-in-
Fungi.aspx
b. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23128987/
✓ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/cell-communication-and-cell-
cycle/cell-communication/v/overview-of-cell-signaling
✓ https://highered.mheducation.com/sites/9834092339/student_view0/chapter9/
cell_proliferation_signaling_pathway.html
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/structure-of-a-cell/cytoskeleton-junctions-and-
extracellular-structures/v/extracellular-matrix