Laminin
Laminin
Laminin (pronunciation: /ˈlæmɪnɪn/) is a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.
Etymology
The term "laminin" is derived from the Latin word 'lamina', which means 'layer'. This is in reference to the protein's ability to form sheets, which are essential for the structure and function of tissues.
Function
Laminin proteins are vital for the maintenance and survival of tissues. They are involved in many cellular processes, including cell adhesion, differentiation, migration, signaling, neurite outgrowth and metastasis. Laminins are major proteins in the basal lamina (one of the layers of the basement membrane), a protein network foundation for most cells and organs.
Structure
Laminins are heterotrimeric proteins that consist of α, β, and γ chain. Each laminin chain has a long α-helical coiled-coil domain that is connected by several short linker regions to a globular domain. The coiled-coil domain is responsible for the formation of the laminin network, as it can bind to other laminin molecules and form a stable, flexible structure.
Related Terms
- Basement membrane: A thin, fibrous, extracellular matrix of tissue that separates the lining of an internal or external body surface from underlying connective tissue.
- Cell adhesion: The process by which cells interact and attach to a surface, substrate or another cell, mediated by interactions between molecules of the cell surface.
- Metastasis: The spread of a disease-producing agency (such as cancer cells) from the initial or primary site of disease to another part of the body.
- Neurite outgrowth: The process by which developing neurons send out axon and dendrites to reach out to their target cells.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Laminin
- Wikipedia's article - Laminin
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