Laminin

Laminin the best known member of a family of basement membrane glycoproteins that play a role in cell adhesion, migration, growth and differentiation (2).  Laminins also promote neurite outgrowth and regeneration (3). Many of laminin’s functions are mediated by integrin cell surface receptors (2). Laminins are heterotrimers, composed of an a, b and g subunit (4).  Laminin-1 from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) mouse tumor tissue has the composition a1b1g1 (also termed A1B1B2) and has an approximate molecular weight 850 kD, composed of a 400 kD alpha chain, a 225 kD beta and a 225 kD gamma chain (Figure 1).  

Read more about assays used to study Laminin (Click here).

References

1. Guidebook to the extracellular matrix and adhesion proteins.  1993. Oxford University Press. Ed. Kreis T and Vale R.
2. Scheele S et al. 2007. Laminin isoforms in development and disease.  J. Mol. Med. 85: 825-836.
3. Edgar D. et al. 1984.  The heparin-binding domain of laminin is responsible for its effects on neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival. EMBO J. 3: 1463-1468.
4. Burgeson R.E. et al. 1994.  A new nomenclature for the laminins. Matrix Biol. 14: 209-211.