PROTEINS OF THE BASEMENT MEMBRANE : A REVIEW

Recent advances in the biochemistry of basement membranes are reviewed. Basement membranes are highly specialized structural elements of the extracellular matrix. Structural and functional properties of major basement membrane proteins (collagen IV, laminin, nidogen, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans) are considered. The main attention is paid to structural and biochemical characterization of the renal glomerular basement membrane, which is the main component of the kidney filtration barrier. Possible ways of isolation and characterization of new basement membrane proteins are reviewed. Further research should provide a more complete picture of the biochemical composition of basement membranes.