Genetic diseases of connective tissues: Cellular and extracellular effects of ECM mutations

John F. Bateman, Raymond P. Boot-Handford, Shireen R. Lamandé

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Tissue-specific extracellular matrices (ECMs) are crucial for normal development and tissue function, and mutations in ECM genes result in a wide range of serious inherited connective tissue disorders. Mutations cause ECM dysfunction by combinations of two mechanisms. First, secretion of the mutated ECM components can be reduced by mutations affecting synthesis or by structural mutations causing cellular retention and/or degradation. Second, secretion of mutant protein can disturb crucial ECM interactions, structure and stability. Moreover, recent experiments suggest that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, caused by mutant misfolded ECM proteins, contributes to the molecular pathology. Targeting ER stress might offer a new therapeutic strategy. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)173-183
    Number of pages10
    JournalNature Reviews Genetics
    Volume10
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2009

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