Cryo-EM reveals the molecular basis oflaminin polymerization and LN-lamininopathies.

Kulczyk, Arkadiusz W; McKee, Karen K; Zhang, Ximo; Bizukojc, Iwona; Yu, Ying Q; Yurchenco, Peter D · Nat Commun · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Laminin polymerization is the major step in basement membranes assembly. Its failures cause laminin N-terminal domain lamininopathies including Pierson syndrome. We have employed cryo-electron microscopy to determine a 3.7 Å structure of the trimeric laminin polymer node containing α1, β1 and γ1 subunits. The structure reveals the molecular basis of calcium-dependent formation of laminin lattice, and provides insights into polymerization defects manifesting in human disease.

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