ABSTRACT
Specific protein-protein interactions are required for the assembly and continued integrity of all basement membranes. In the highly specialized dermal-epidermal basement membrane zone (BMZ) an intricate and precise organization of multiple components is required to maintain dermal-epidermal cohesion. Disruption of this organized array of components, either by inherited (epidermolysis bullosa) (Marinkovich et al., 1999) or acquired (autoimmune bullous) disease (Lin et al., 1997), can result in extensive skin and mucosal blistering.
