Mutations in the cell-binding motif of reveal hypercontraction behavior and defective sensitivity to levamisole in .

The amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) is a cell-binding motif for extracellular matrix proteins. Initially found in fibronectin, the RGD motif is also found in LAM-3/laminin α chain in . Laminin, a heterotrimeric glycoprotein, is a significant component of the basement membrane. Mutations in laminin subunits disrupt the extracellular matrix hence inhibit cell adhesion. This study aims to characterize the function of the RGD motif in /laminin α. Two mutations, RGE and ΔRGD, were generated. Our analysis of the mutants revealed that the RGD motif is involved in the motility of animals, suggesting that the cell-laminin interaction plays a role in regulating body contraction.