Fibromodulin/FMOD [H11]

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), such as Decorin, Biglycan, Fibromodulin and Lumican, mediate extracellular matrix organization and are binding partners of TGFβ. Fibromodulin is a collagen-binding Keratan sulphate proteoglycan that influences adhesion processes of connective tissue and plays a role in fibrillogenesis by regulating collagen fibril spacing and thickness. The core proteins of SLRPs consist of a central region of leucine-rich repeats flanked by disulfide-linkages of the terminal domains. Fibromodulin is a ubiquitous protein that is most prominent in articular cartilage, tendon and ligament. The human Fibromodulin gene maps to chromosome 1q32.1 and encodes a 376 amino acid protein.