Vanderbilt study: Chloride 'switch' turns on membrane formation

(Vanderbilt University Medical Center) Chloride plays a key role in the formation of the basement membrane, a suprastructure on the outside of cells that undergirds and guides the function of most of the tissues of the body. In particular, chloride signals the assembly of collagen IV 'smart scaffolds,' a critical step in basement membrane formation, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center reported today, May 23, in the Journal of Cell Biology.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news