RATIONAL DESIGN OF A BIOCOMPATIBLE SYNTHETIC LAMININ-111 POLYMER AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention identifies and provides the minimal unit of function for laminin-111 (Ln-1) to inform the design of synthetic basement membranes that could function in lieu of Ln-1. Small linear peptides that correspond to different receptor binding domains of Ln-1 were identified as crucial mediators of milk protein promoter activity, apical polarity, and alveogenesis. The peptides were conjugated to the biopolymer hyaluronic acid and combined with a hydrogel to create a synthetic analog of the Ln-I molecule. Specific combinations of the peptide conjugates synergistically mediated milk-protein promoter activity. Thus, we have succeeded in identifying the minimum unit of function within Ln-1 responsible for mediating a number of essential mammary functions.