title: The laminin family.
abstract: Laminins are large molecular weight glycoproteins constituted by the assembly of three disulfide-linked polypeptides, the α, β and γ chains. The human genome encodes 11 genetically distinct laminin chains. Structurally, laminin chains differ by the number, size and organization of a few constitutive domains, endowing the various members of the laminin family with common and unique important functions. In particular, laminins are indispensable building blocks for cellular networks physically bridging the intracellular and extracellular compartments and relaying signals critical for cellular behavior, and for extracellular polymers determining the architecture and the physiology of basement membranes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. aumailley@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aumailley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017474:Receptors, Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C478221:LAMB1 protein, human; D007797:Laminin; D017474:Receptors, Laminin; C089141:laminin gamma 1; C084098:laminin A