Adhesion and Migration, the Diverse Functions of the Laminin ⍺3 Subunit - 05/08/11

Doi : 10.1016/j.det.2009.10.009

Kevin J. Hamill, PhD ^a,^⁎ , Amy S. Paller, MD ^b, Jonathan C.R. Jones, PhD ^c
^a Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Tarry 8-746, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
^b Departments of Dermatology and Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Tarry 8-746, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
^c Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Street Clair, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

Corresponding author.

Resumen

The laminins are a secreted family of heterotrimeric molecules essential for basement membrane formation, structure, and function. It is now well established that the ⍺3 subunit of laminins-332, -321, and -311 plays an important role in mediating epidermal-dermal integrity and is essential for the skin to withstand mechanical stresses. These laminins also regulate cell migration and mechanosignal transduction. This article provides an overview of the gene, transcripts, and protein structures of laminin ⍺3. Also discussed are the proposed functions for the ⍺3 subunit–containing laminins.

El texto completo de este artículo está disponible en PDF.

Keywords : Basement membrane, Cell adhesion, Cell migration, Laminins