Jacek Mazanek, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher and David Aebisher
Medical College of The University of Rzeszów, Poland

Part of the book: The Biochemical Guide to Proteins

Abstract

Since the 1940s, thanks to scientists, the protein fibronectin has been known. Getting to know its exact structure allowed to understand how the reactions related to fibronectin proceed. Due to its structure, fibronectin can exist in a soluble and insoluble form depending on the situation and place of occurrence. The globular form of fibronectin is found in blood plasma, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva, and is soluble, while the fibrillar form is found in the extracellular matrix or associated with the cell membrane and is insoluble and therefore supports. A deficiency or lack of fibronectin due to genetic diseases in utero can cause birth defects as well as impaired or completely abolished ability to heal wounds.

Keywords: fibronectin, glycosaminoglycans, laminin, Schwann cells, blood plasma

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