The sarcoglycan complex has been well characterized in striated muscle, and defects in its
components are associated with muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy. Here, we have
characterized the smooth muscle sarcoglycan complex. By examination of embryonic
muscle lineages and biochemical fractionation studies, we demonstrated that ε-sarcoglycan
is an integral component of the smooth muscle sarcoglycan complex along with β-and δ-
sarcoglycan. Analysis of genetically defined animal models for muscular dystrophy …