Background:The supramolecular assemblies of basement membranes are incompletely understood. Results: Basement membranes are suprastructural composites of two separable, alloyed networks containing collagens IV or laminins.
Conclusion:The laminin-and collagen IV-containing networks are "spot-welded" by perlecan aggregates, but not by nidogens. Significance: Biological properties of supramolecular assemblies, such as basement membranes, go beyond the sum of individual macromolecular attributes.
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