About this Research Topic
Within the research field focussing on the DG adhesion complex, a lot of attention has been dedicated to this protein and its partners -both modifying enzymes and binding partners (representing what could be defined as the enlarged family of the dystroglycan-axis). This is due to their role in human neuromuscular diseases. Whereas a somehow reduced attention has been dedicated to its role in diverse pathophysiological and cellular contexts and in different species.
I believe that this gap can affect the perspective required when estimating the specific relevance that a series of cellular or animal model systems have for the study of human neuromuscular diseases, with repercussions for both biomedicine and potential therapeutical approaches. One of the aims of this Research Topic would be to start addressing this gap by attracting contributions on the characterization of the DG subunits and of the DG axis as a model for neuromuscular diseases but also taking into account novel developmental and/or evolutionary connections, with the aim of establishing a fruitful cross-talk between different scientific areas.
This Research Topic welcomes submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Evolutionary aspects of dystroglycan, related enzymes and binding partners
• Functional role played by specific dystroglycan sub-domains in different species
• Structural and functional aspects of dystroglycan and related enzymes and
importance for human diseases
• Role and regulation of invertebrate dystroglycan
• Dystroglycan in embryogenesis and tissue regeneration
• Regulation of dystroglycan gene expression
• Dystroglycan and its binding partners in muscle regeneration
• The dystroglycan axis in animal models for neuromuscular disorders
• Potential role of dystroglycan and interactors in the nucleus
Keywords: Dystroglycan, Evolution, Extracellular matrix, Basement membranes, Protein domains & motifs, Mutants, Gene expression regulation, Dystroglycanopathies, Neuromuscular diseases, Muscular dystrophy, Protein trafficking, Protein glycosylation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.