Question

What is the difference between what is called the matrix and what is called the scaffold? What is the nuclear matrix/scaffold and what does it consist of? What is a MARs and what are its general characteristics? What are some nuclear activities that are believed to be associated with the nuclear matrix?

Answer 1

• Matrix is extracellular or intracellular.
• Intracellular matrix is nothing but the fibrous cytoskeleton of a cell.
• Extracellular matrix is the thin fibrous matrix secreted by cells for (interstitial matrix and basement membrane) providing structural support to surrounding cells.
• Scaffold is a temporary structure laid for attachment.
• The mesh like fibrous system found in nucleus is said to be nuclear matrix.
• Nuclear scaffold (SAR) and nuclear matrix (MAR) are the sequences of DNA.
• Scaffold attachment regions and matrix associated regions are the regions of DNA to which the nuclear matrix attaches.
• The SAR and MAR have been associated with chromatin of a chromosome.
• The SAR and MAR provide the structural organization of the chromatin, the folding of chromatin, arrangement of chromatin of a chromosome within a nucleus.
• The SAR and MAR thus plays important role in gene expression through anchoring to chromatin and through scaffolding of chromatin.