Dystroglycan inside and out

Dystroglycan connects the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton. Key findin gs in the past year indicate that dystroglycan interacts with a wider reper toire of extracellular ligands than originally appreciated, that dystroglyc an plays a critical role in organizing extracellular matrix molecules on th e cell surface and in basement membranes, and that at least two human patho gens utilize dystroglycan to gain access to host cells. Together, these adv ances begin to help elucidate important biological roles for dystroglycan i n development and disease.