Collagen receptor Collagen receptor Collagen receptors are membrane proteins that bind the extracellular matrix protein collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals. They control mainly cell proliferation, migration and adhesion, coagulation cascade activation and they affect ECM structure by regulation of MMP (matrix metalloproteinases). There are at least eight human collagen receptors belonging to four different classes. Integrins function as the major cell receptor for extracellular matrix protein. These an receptors comprise an α and β transmembrane subunit, which are noncovalently bound. Collagen binding is primarily provided by integrins α1β1, α2β1, α10β1 and α11β1. Integrin α1β1 binds to collagen via the MIDAS
Keratin about 10 µm across, with cores and coating, and may be arranged in up to 10 layers, also in plaques of variable shape. Adult hornets also use silk as a glue, as do spiders. Some infectious fungi, such as those that cause athlete's foot and ringworm (i.e. the dermatophytes), or "Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis" (Chytrid fungus), feed on keratin. Diseases caused by mutations in the keratin genes include: Keratin expression is helpful in determining epithelial origin in anaplastic cancers. Tumors that express keratin include carcinomas, thymomas, sarcomas and trophoblastic neoplasms. Furthermore, the precise expression pattern of keratin subtypes allows prediction of the