dystrophin

A protein found in the sarcolemma of normal muscle; it is missing in individuals with pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy and in other forms of muscular dystrophy; its role may be in the linkage of the cytoskeleton of the muscle cell to extracellular protein. SYN: distropin, dystropin.

* * *

dys·tro·phin 'dis-trə-.fin n a protein of high molecular weight that is associated with a transmembrane glycoprotein complex of skeletal muscle cells and is absent in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and deficient or of abnormal molecular weight in Becker muscular dystrophy

* * *

dys·troph·in (disґtrə-fin) a protein found in skeletal and cardiac muscle, normally in a tightly bound complex with sarcolemmal glycoproteins; mutations in the gene encoding it have been associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, and occasionally also other types of skeletal muscle dysfunction. See also dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, under complex.