DMD and Duchenne muscular dystrophy: DMD is caused by mutations in the DMD gene that disrupt the production of functional Dp427m protein in muscles,28,29 resulting in an increased vulnerability to the forces generated during sarcomere contraction.30 In striated muscle, Dp427m is a large cytoskeleton protein that binds directly or indirectly to several proteins such as scaffolding proteins via its C-terminal domain and forms the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC) (Fig. 2).