title: The Role of Dystroglycan and Its Ligands in Physiology and Disease.
abstract: Dystroglycan contributes to the formation of basement membrane during embryonic development and enforces cell membrane integrity by bridging cytoskeleton and components of the extracellular matrix. In several forms of muscle disease, dystroglycan is reduced in abundance. Moreover, human viral and bacterial pathogens use dystroglycan as their cellular entry point.
authors.affiliation: MyoContract, Department of Pharmacology/Neurobiology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Markus A.
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ruegg