The LAMA2 gene provides instructions for making a part (subunit) of certain members of a protein family called laminins. Laminin proteins are made of three different subunits called alpha, beta, and gamma. There are several forms of each subunit, and each form is produced from instructions carried by a different gene. The LAMA2 gene provides instructions for the alpha-2 subunit. This subunit, together with the beta-1 and gamma-1 subunits, forms the laminin 2 protein, also known as merosin or laminin-211. The alpha-2 subunit, along with the beta-2 and gamma-1 subunits, also forms another laminin called laminin 4, sometimes known as laminin-221.

Laminins are found in an intricate lattice of proteins and other molecules that forms in the spaces between cells (the extracellular matrix). There, the laminins help regulate cell growth, cell movement (motility), and the attachment of cells to one another (adhesion). They are also involved in the formation and organization of basement membranes, which are thin, sheet-like structures within the extracellular matrix that separate and support cells in many tissues. Laminin 2 and laminin 4 play a particularly important role in the muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles). The laminins attach (bind) to other proteins in the extracellular matrix and in the membrane of muscle cells, which helps maintain the stability of muscle fibers.

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

• Tests of LAMA2

Scientific Articles on PubMed

• PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

• LAMININ, ALPHA-2; LAMA2

Gene and Variant Databases

• NCBI Gene
• ClinVar

• Allamand V, Guicheney P. Merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy, autosomal recessive (MDC1A, MIM#156225, LAMA2 gene coding for alpha2 chain of laminin). Eur J Hum Genet. 2002 Feb;10(2):91-4. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200743. Citation on PubMed
• Gavassini BF, Carboni N, Nielsen JE, Danielsen ER, Thomsen C, Svenstrup K, Bello L, Maioli MA, Marrosu G, Ticca AF, Mura M, Marrosu MG, Soraru G, Angelini C, Vissing J, Pegoraro E. Clinical and molecular characterization of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy due to LAMA2 mutations. Muscle Nerve. 2011 Nov;44(5):703-9. doi: 10.1002/mus.22132. Epub 2011 Sep 26. Citation on PubMed
• Geranmayeh F, Clement E, Feng LH, Sewry C, Pagan J, Mein R, Abbs S, Brueton L, Childs AM, Jungbluth H, De Goede CG, Lynch B, Lin JP, Chow G, Sousa Cd, O'Mahony O, Majumdar A, Straub V, Bushby K, Muntoni F. Genotype-phenotype correlation in a large population of muscular dystrophy patients with LAMA2 mutations. Neuromuscul Disord. 2010 Apr;20(4):241-50. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2010.02.001. Epub 2010 Mar 6. Citation on PubMed
• Jones KJ, Morgan G, Johnston H, Tobias V, Ouvrier RA, Wilkinson I, North KN. The expanding phenotype of laminin alpha2 chain (merosin) abnormalities: case series and review. J Med Genet. 2001 Oct;38(10):649-57. doi: 10.1136/jmg.38.10.649. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Miyagoe-Suzuki Y, Nakagawa M, Takeda S. Merosin and congenital muscular dystrophy. Microsc Res Tech. 2000 Feb 1-15;48(3-4):181-91. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(20000201/15)48:3/43.0.CO;2-Q. Citation on PubMed