Des protéines à motifs riches en leucine définissent une cinquième famille de molécules d'adhérence

Abstract

Numerous proteins contain a domain made of a variable number of leucine-rich repeats. These molecules exert various functions. Some of them, such as GPIb in humans, and chaoptin, Toll and connectin in Drosophila, appear to be adhesion molecules involved in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions. GPIb is part of a complex which plays a central role in platelets function. Chaoptin, Toll and connectin are involved in developmental processes in Drosophila.