Tenascin

They are abundant in the extracellular matrix of developing vertebrate embryos and they reappear around healing wounds and in the stroma of some tumors.

There are four members of the tenascin gene family: tenascin-C, tenascin-R, tenascin-X and tenascin-W.

The basic structure is 14 EGF-like repeats towards the N-terminal end, and 8 or more fibronectin-III domains which vary upon species and variant.

It has anti-adhesive properties, causing cells in tissue culture to become rounded after it is added to the medium.

The expression of tenascin-C in the stroma of certain tumors is associated with a poor prognosis.

The fibronectin type III domain from human tenascin, colored from blue ( N-terminus ) to red ( C-terminus ). [ 1 ]