Final answer:
The ECM's mechanical properties are primarily regulated by collagen, elastin, and laminin. These proteins provide structure, elasticity, and are crucial for cell adhesion and communication within tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main regulators of ECM (extracellular matrix) mechanical properties are collagen, elastin, and laminin. Collagen is a key structural protein, making up about 25% of all proteins in mammals, and provides tensile strength to various tissues such as skin and bone. Elastin provides elasticity, allowing tissues to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Laminin is a crucial protein in the basal lamina that influences cell differentiation and tissue formation.
Collagen and elastin are structural fibrous proteins, while laminin, along with fibrillin and fibronectin, are specialized proteins that are imperative for cell adhesion. Collagen fibers are interwoven with proteoglycans to form the ECM, which not only connects cells to form tissues but also communicates signals between them. Fibronectin engages with integrins on the cell surface, helping to anchor cells to the ECM and play a role in embryonic cell migration and tissue development.