The tenascins are a family of four glycoproteins located in the extracellular matrix, consisting of tenascin-C, X, R, and W. Tenascins are large molecules of >300 kd, .
Tenascin family members share considerable homology in structure, containing amino-terminal heptad repeats,epidermal growth factor-like repeats, fibronectin type III domain repeats, and a carboxy-terminal fibrinogen- like globular domain. The main role of tenascins is in modulating cell-matrix interactions and mediating an anti-adhesive phenotype promoting cell motility.
©SMUHT/PW Bishop