title: The dystrophin glycoprotein complex: signaling strength and integrity for the sarcolemma.
abstract: The dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) is a specialization of cardiac and skeletal muscle membrane. This large multicomponent complex has both mechanical stabilizing and signaling roles in mediating interactions between the cytoskeleton, membrane, and extracellular matrix. Dystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne and X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy locus, links cytoskeletal and membrane elements. Mutations in additional DGC genes, the sarcoglycans, also lead to cardiomyopathy and muscular dystrophy. Animal models of DGC mutants have shown that destabilization of the DGC leads to membrane fragility and loss of membrane integrity, resulting in degeneration of skeletal muscle and cardiomyocytes. Vascular reactivity is altered in response to primary degeneration in striated myocytes and arises from a vascular smooth muscle cell-extrinsic mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Ill 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lapidos
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kakkar
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McNally
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D051244:Caveolin 3; D022461:Caveolins / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D049030:Dystroglycans; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000502:physiology; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
chemical_list: C495548:Cav3 protein, mouse; D051244:Caveolin 3; D022461:Caveolins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C483081:DAG1 protein, human; D016189:Dystrophin; D007797:Laminin; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C102645:laminin alpha 2; D049030:Dystroglycans; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse