Abstract.
Thrombospondins are large secreted, multimodular, calcium-binding glycoproteins that have complex roles in mediating cellular processes. Determination of high-resolution structures of thrombospondins has revealed unique and interesting protein motifs. Here, we review this progress and discuss implications for function. By combining structures of modules from thrombospondins and related extracellular proteins it is now possible to prepare an overall model of the structure of thrombospondin-1 and thrombospondin-2 and discern features of other thrombospondins. (Part of a multi-author Review)
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carlson, C.B., Lawler, J. & Mosher, D.F. Thrombospondins: from structure to therapeutics. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 672 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7484-1
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7484-1