The leucine-rich repeat protein PRELP binds fibroblast cell surface proteoglycans and enhances focal adhesion formation.
PRELP is a member of the leucine-rich repeat family of extracellular matrix proteins in connective tissue. In contrast to other members of the family, the amino-terminal domain of PRELP has a high content of proline and positively charged amino acids. This domain has previously been shown to bind chondrocytes and to inhibit osteoclast differentiation. Here we show that PRELP mediates cell adhesion