Final answer:
Integrins are the proteins on the surface of animal cells that link the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix, playing a crucial role in maintaining cell structure and translating signals for cellular responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The animal cell surface proteins that link the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix are known as integrins. These integrin proteins interact with transmembrane proteins in the plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells that lack cell walls, connecting the cells to the extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix is a complex network of proteins and carbohydrates that not only provides structural support to animal cells but also facilitates cell signaling and interaction. Among these proteins, collagen provides strength, while proteoglycans form the bulk mass, and both are connected through fibronectin proteins to integrins. The interaction with integrin proteins alters the conformation of microfilaments within the cell, leading to changes in cell behavior by activating signaling pathways that can affect protein production and gene transcription.