The importance of the extracellular matrix in maintaining the structural integrity of organisms, in regulating the normal biology of a cell, and in the development and progression of disease, has established this area as a major focus of contemporary research. This book is a timely compendium of the key biochemical, immunological, and molecular biological techniques and approaches currently used to study both extracellular matrix macromolecules and their function in vertebrates. Topics covered include methods for the study of the different genetic types of collagens, the structural glycoproteins (fibronectin, laminin, tenascin, thrombospondin, and SPARC), elastin, glycosaminoglycans, and proteoglycans, for investigating the catabolism of matrix components, for the use of matrix in cell culture, for immunological identification of matrix components in cells and tissues, and for studying the regulation of extracellular matrix gene expression. Extracellular Matrix: A Practical Approach is a unique source of the latest research methods for all researchers in this subject area. It also represents a valuable information resource for investigators whose major interests lie in related fields.