The X-linked muscle-wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations
in the gene encoding dystrophin. There is currently no effective treatment for the disease; …

▪ Abstract Significant advances have been made in the application of genetics to probe the
functions of basement membrane laminins. These studies have shown that different laminin …

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an interconnected macromolecular scaffold occupying the
space between cells. Amongst other functions, the ECM provides structural support to …

The dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) is a specialization of cardiac and skeletal
muscle membrane. This large multicomponent complex has both mechanical stabilizing and …

Muscle–eye–brain disease (MEB) and Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD)
are congenital muscular dystrophies with associated, similar brain malformations,. The …

The congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) are a heterogeneous group of autosomal
recessive disorders presenting in infancy with muscle weakness, contractures, and …

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in egg fertilization, embryonic
development, wound repair, cancer, and inflammatory and neurologic diseases. This …

The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is the central, non-cellular layer of the
glomerular filtration barrier that is situated between the two cellular components …

In nonneuronal cells, the cell surface protein dystroglycan links the intracellular cytoskeleton
(via dystrophin or utrophin) to the extracellular matrix (via laminin, agrin, or perlecan) …

Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), muscle–eye–brain disease (MEB), and
Walker–Warburg syndrome are congenital muscular dystrophies (CMDs) with associated …