Fig. 11. Model for the role of DG as a MEC co-receptor in laminin-111 assembly and laminin-111-induced functions. -DG on the MEC surface serves as the initial anchoring site for laminin-111 (LN) monomers by interacting with their C-terminal LG domains (step 1). The laminin-111-DG complexes recruit ß1 integrin (INT) co-receptors, which contribute to laminin-111 polymerization (step 2). Subsequent activation of co-receptors, possibly integrins (INT), influences intracellular signaling pathways leading to polarity and ß-casein induction (step 3).