Laminins are the Adhesive Proteins of Basal Lamina

Laminins are multi-adhesive glycoproteins found in basal lamina. They are composed of three polypeptide chains, alpha, beta and gamma, covalently linked by multiple disulfide bonds.

These chains are twisted together at the C-terminus end, while they remain separated at the N-terminus.

The laminin G - like  domain at the C-terminus of the alpha subunit interacts with proteins such as integrin and dystroglycan present in the cell membrane. This contributes primarily toward cell attachment and helping to exchange signals between intracellular and extracellular matter.

The N-terminal end interacts with other laminins to form a mesh-like network. It further associates with type IV collagen, perlecan, and entactin to form the basal lamina.