DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
The EC domain (EC stands for extracellular) is the part of a membrane-bound protein that is located outside the cell membrane - i.e. extracellular.
General informationThis section has been translated automatically.
The EC domain faces the extracellular space (e.g. in cell surface proteins). Often contains binding sites for ligands, other cells, antibodies or pathogens. Is often a target in autoimmune diseases (e.g. desmoglein-1 in pemphigus foliaceus).
Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.
Example: Desmoglein-1 (Dsg1) in pemphigus foliaceus
Desmoglein-1 is a transmembrane adhesion protein of the skin(cadherin).
It has several EC domains (EC1-EC5) that protrude extracellularly from the cell.
Autoantibodies in pemphigus foliaceus typically bind to the EC1 or EC2 domain and thereby disrupt cell-cell adhesion, resulting in intraepithelial blistering.
