Laminin

Laminin is the fundamental protein that assemble the basal lamina or the basement membrane. Laminin molecules are the first moleules to be formed in the early stage of the basal lamina. In terms of composition, three longpolypeptide chains: alpha, beta and gamma chains, form the protein laminin. These chains twist and turn via disulfide bond give rise to the asymmetric shape of the protein. Due to the presence of isoforms of each chains, different combinations of these isoforms can be produced. Hence, each combinations create different set of laminin, each with different functions, structures and characteristic.