Dystroglycan is a transmembrane protein that connects the extracellular matrix to the
cytoskeleton. Given the ubiquitous tissue expression of dystroglycan, different functional
roles in various organ systems have been characterized during the past decade. More
recently, aberrant glycosylation of dystroglycan has been identified as a novel pathogenetic
mechanism in several forms of congenital and late onset muscular dystrophy syndromes.
The current review summarizes the recent scientific achievements as they relate to the …