Background of the antigen
Extracellular glycoproteins fibrillin-1 and -2 are major components of connective tissue microfibrils. Fibrillin-2 containing microfibrils regulate the early process of elastic fiber assembly in tissue. Mutations in the fibrillin-2 gene resulting in impaired assembly of fibrillin-2 may lead to molecular congenital contractural arachnodactyly. Fibrillin-2 constitutes the backbone of microfibrils which insert directly into the lamina densa of basement membranes. Epithelial cells primarily deposit fibrillin into the extracellular matrix in a nonfibrillar form. Mutations in the 8-cysteine motif of Fibrillin-2 alters its binding to microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1), which may increase the severity of congenital contractural arachnodactyly.
