Author/Editor		Walko, Gernot; Castañón, Maria J.; Wiche, Gerhard
Title		Molecular architecture and function of the hemidesmosome
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 360, št. 2
Publication year		2015
Volume		str. 363-378
ISSN		0302-766X - Cell and tissue research
Language		eng
Abstract		Hemidesmosomes are multiprotein complexes that facilitate the stable adhesion of basal epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane. The mechanical stability of hemidesmosomes relies on multiple interactions of a few protein components that form a membrane-embedded tightly-ordered complex. The core of this complex is provided by integrin [alpha]6[beta]4 and P1a, an isoform of the cytoskeletal linker protein plectin that is specifically associated with hemidesmosomes. Integrin [alpha]6[beta]4 binds to the extracellular matrix protein laminin-332, whereas P1a forms a bridge to the cytoplasmic keratin intermediate filament network. Other important components are BPAG1e, the epithelial isoform of bullous pemphigoid antigen 1, BPAG2, a collagen-type transmembrane protein and CD151. Inherited or acquired diseases in which essential components of the hemidesmosome are missing or structurally altered result in tissue fragility and blistering. Modulation of hemidesmosome function is of crucial importance for a variety of biological processes, such as terminal differentiation of basal keratinocytes and keratinocyte migration during wound healing and carcinoma invasion. Here, we review the molecular characteristics of the proteins that make up the hemidesmosome core structure and summarize the current knowledge about how their assembly and turnover are regulated by transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms.
Keywords		hemidesmosomes epithelial cells molecular architecture and function hemidesmosomi epitelijske celice mlekularna arhitektura in funkcija