The dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) is a membrane-spanning complex that links the interior cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix in muscle. The sarcoglycan complex is a subcomplex within the DGC and is composed of several muscle-specific, transmembrane proteins (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta- and zeta-sarcoglycan). The sarcoglycans are asparagine-linked glycosylated proteins with single transmembrane domains. This family contains beta, gamma and delta members [1,2].

1: Dystrophin-glycoprotein complex and Ras and Rho GTPase signaling are altered in muscle atrophy. Chockalingam PS, Cholera R, Oak SA, Zheng Y, Jarrett HW, Thomason DB; Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2002;28:190-199. PMID:12107060

2: zeta-Sarcoglycan, a novel component of the sarcoglycan complex, is reduced in muscular dystrophy. Wheeler MT, Zarnegar S, McNally EM; Hum Mol Genet 2002;11:2147-2154. PMID:12189167