What protein is primarily affected in Becker's muscular dystrophy?

Becker's muscular dystrophy is primarily associated with a deficiency in dystrophin, a crucial protein that helps maintain the structural integrity of muscle fibers. Dystrophin is part of a complex that connects the inner cytoskeleton of muscle cells to the extracellular matrix, providing support and stability during muscle contraction. In individuals with Becker's muscular dystrophy, the dystrophin protein is produced but is either incomplete or dysfunctional, leading to progressive muscle weakness and degeneration.

The condition is an X-linked recessive disorder, primarily affecting males, and results in a gradual loss of motor function due to the impaired ability of muscle fibers to withstand the physical stress of contraction. The manifestations of Becker's muscular dystrophy generally appear later in childhood or adolescence compared to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which involves a complete absence of dystrophin.

Understanding the role of dystrophin clarifies why this specific protein is central to the pathology of Becker's muscular dystrophy, distinguishing it from other options like laminin, sarcoglycan, and collagen, which are involved in different muscular dystrophies or have other functions in the body.