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Using In Vivo and Tissue and Cell Explant Approaches to Study the Morphogenesis and Pathogenesis of the Embryonic and Perinatal Aorta
Published on: September 12, 2017
Molecular cloning of a novel laminin chain, alpha 5, and widespread expression in adult mouse tissues
J H Miner1, R M Lewis, J R Sanes
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Abstract:
We have identified a fifth member of the alpha subfamily of vertebrate laminin chains. Sequence analysis revealed a close relationship of alpha 5 to the only known Drosophila alpha chain, suggesting that the ancestral alpha gene was more similar to alpha 5 than to alpha 1-4. Analysis of RNA expression showed that alpha 5 is widely expressed in adult tissues, with highest levels in lung, heart, and kidney. Our results suggest that alpha 5 may be a major laminin chain of adult basal laminae.

