Laminin A-related domains in crb protein of Drosophila and their possible role in epithelial polarization.

It is shown that four domains of the integral membrane protein crb of Drosophila are homologous with five C-terminal domains of the laminin A chain and merosin. Since the latter domains of laminin A have been implicated in determining epithelial polarity, the homology may suggest a similar function for these domains of crb. Such a function would be consistent with the known importance of crb for organization of epithelia in Drosophila.