Final answer:
The defective part of the basement membrane in junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa (EBA) Herlitz and non-Herlitz is Laminin 332 (option B). Laminin 332 is crucial for cell adhesion and maintaining the integrity of the skin's basement membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the part of the basement membrane involved in junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa (EBA), specifically the Herlitz and non-Herlitz variants. Epidermolysis Bullosa is a group of inherited blistering disorders characterized by a defect in the skin's basement membrane, which leads to increased skin fragility and blister formation upon minor trauma. In the case of junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, the protein affected is Laminin 332 (formerly known as laminin 5).
Laminin 332 is a major component of the basement membrane and plays a crucial role in cell adhesion and the structural integrity of the skin. Mutations in the genes encoding the subunits of Laminin 332 lead to the Herlitz and non-Herlitz types of junctional EBA, where skin adhesion is compromised, resulting in severe blistering.
Therefore, the answer to the student's question is B) Laminin 332.