Laminin: loss-of-function studies

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• 作者：Yao Yao
• 关键词：Laminin ; Knockout ; Loss ; of ; function ; Animal model ; Basement membrane
• 刊名：Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：March 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：74
• 期：6
• 页码：1095-1115
• 全文大小：
• 刊物类别：Biomedical and Life Sciences
• 刊物主题：Cell Biology; Biomedicine, general; Life Sciences, general; Biochemistry, general;
• 出版者：Springer International Publishing
• ISSN：1420-9071
• 卷排序：74

文摘

Laminin, one of the most widely expressed extracellular matrix proteins, exerts many important functions in multiple organs/systems and at various developmental stages. Although its critical roles in embryonic development have been demonstrated, laminin’s functions at later stages remain largely unknown, mainly due to its intrinsic complexity and lack of research tools (most laminin mutants are embryonic lethal). With the advance of genetic and molecular techniques, many new laminin mutants have been generated recently. These new mutants usually have a longer lifespan and show previously unidentified phenotypes. Not only do these studies suggest novel functions of laminin, but also they provide invaluable animal models that allow investigation of laminin’s functions at late stages. Here, I first briefly introduce the nomenclature, structure, and biochemistry of laminin in general. Next, all the loss-of-function mutants/models for each laminin chain are discussed and their phenotypes compared. I hope to provide a comprehensive review on laminin functions and its loss-of-function models, which could serve as a reference for future research in this understudied field.