THE 5TH ADHESION MOLECULES FAMILY - THE L EUCINE RICH MOTIFS PROTEINS

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