LAMA4
Description
The LAMA4 (laminin subunit alpha 4) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 6.
Laminin subunit alpha-4 is a protein encoded by the LAMA4 gene in humans. It is one of the three chains that make up laminin, a family of extracellular matrix glycoproteins essential for basement membrane formation. Laminins are crucial for various biological processes, including cell adhesion, differentiation, migration, signaling, neurite outgrowth, and metastasis. They consist of three non-identical chains: alpha, beta, and gamma, forming a cruciform structure with three short arms and a long arm. Each chain is a multidomain protein encoded by a separate gene, and various isoforms exist for each chain. Different combinations of alpha, beta, and gamma chain isoforms produce distinct laminin heterotrimers, such as laminin 1 (alpha1beta1gamma1). The specific functions of each chain and laminin trimer are largely unknown, but their tissue distribution suggests diverse roles in vivo. The LAMA4 gene encodes the alpha chain isoform known as laminin, alpha 4.
Laminin, a complex glycoprotein, plays a crucial role in embryonic development by mediating cell attachment, migration, and tissue organization. It achieves this by binding to cells through a high-affinity receptor and interacting with other extracellular matrix components.
LAMA4 is also known as CMD1JJ, LAMA3, LAMA4*-1.
