ITGA3
Description
The ITGA3 (integrin subunit alpha 3) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 17.
Integrin alpha-3 is a protein encoded by the ITGA3 gene in humans. It forms an integrin alpha subunit, specifically the α3β1 integrin duplex, when combined with the beta-1 subunit. This duplex plays a crucial role in neural migration and corticogenesis, influenced by factors like netrin-1 and reelin. The alpha 3 chain is encoded by ITGA3. Integrins are proteins comprised of an alpha and a beta chain, both integral to the cell membrane. Alpha chain 3 undergoes post-translational cleavage in the extracellular domain, producing disulfide-linked light and heavy chains. These chains associate with beta 1, forming an integrin that interacts with numerous extracellular matrix proteins. This integrin is also known by other names, including very late (activation) antigen 3 ('VLA-3'), very common antigen 2 ('VCA-2'), extracellular matrix receptor 1 ('ECMR1'), and galactoprotein b3 ('GAPB3'). CD49c, another name for the alpha 3 chain, has been shown to interact with proteins like CD9, FHL2, LGALS8, and TSPAN4.
Integrin alpha-3/beta-1 binds to various extracellular matrix proteins including fibronectin, laminin, collagen, epiligrin, thrombospondin and CSPG4. This interaction plays a role in cell adhesion and invasion. In a collagen-dependent manner, integrin alpha-3/beta-1 provides a docking site for FAP (seprase) at invadopodia plasma membranes, contributing to invadopodia formation and matrix degradation, ultimately promoting cell invasion. Furthermore, alpha-3/beta-1 can mediate the stimulation of endothelial cell migration by CSPG4 through its interaction with LGALS3.
ITGA3 is also known as CD49C, FRP-2, GAP-B3, GAPB3, ILNEB, JEB7, MSK18, VCA-2, VL3A, VLA3a.
