dystroglycan

(= 156DAG)

Complex composed of two proteins, a and b -dystroglycans (formerly known as 156DAG and 43DAG/A3a respectively) derived from a single precursor by proteolytic cleavage. b -Dystroglycan is a transmembrane protein that associates with dystrophin in the cytoplasm and a -dystroglycan, an extracellular glycoprotein, on the exterior face. a -dystroglycan binds to dystrophin, thus linking actin through dystrophin and b -dystroglycan to the extracellular matrix. Also associates with dystrophin. Dystrophin deficiency leads to a deficiency in the appearance of these proteins on the sarcolemma, even though they are not themselves defective.