Dysferlin and muscular dystrophy.

The limb-girdle muscular dystrophies are a highly heterogeneous group of muscle disorders with many different genetic causes now known. Amongst the causes of LGMD, the dysferlin gene stands out as novel for several reasons. It is the first known example of a C2 domain containing protein involved in a muscular dystrophy, mutations in the gene can be involved in a variable phenotype, and a naturally occurring mouse model for dysferlin deficiency has recently been identified. This article reviews the progress made in understanding this form of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy to date.