Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen, a new major component of cutaneous basement membrane, is a glycoprotein with collagenous domains.

The epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen is a major constituent of the basement membrane zone beneath stratified squamous epithelium. The antigen which is recognized in extracts of skin basement membrane by Western blot analysis with polyclonal or monoclonal antiepidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen antibodies as 2 chains (a major chain of 290,000 and a minor chain of 145,000) has a native molecular weight over 800,000. Both epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen chains contain carbohydrate and the 290K chain is sensitive to collagenase.