Project description
The extracellular matrix as a platform for studying tissue mechanical history
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex 3D material that forms a scaffold around cells and determines the mechanical properties of structural tissues like bone, tendon and skin. Recent studies demonstrated that covalent bond breaks in the ECM proteins result in chemical modifications that communicate the mechanical history, embedding specific molecular cues into the ECM structure. The EU-funded EXTREME project aims to elucidate the specifics of the ECM mechanochemical modifications as well as how cells recognise them and how they change in ageing and disease. The project will employ the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance methodology to determine these modifications in the ECM of intact tissues under mechanical deformations.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantHost institution
CB2 1TN Cambridge
United Kingdom
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Beneficiaries (1)
CB2 1TN Cambridge
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