ITGA3

ITGA3

A gene on chromosome 17q21.33 that encodes an integrin alpha-chain protein which, like all integrins, forms a heterodimer with a beta chain, thereby participating in an array of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, playing a major role in cell migration, organ and tissue development and differentiation. Alpha 3 undergoes post-translational cleavage in the extracellular domain to yield disulfide-linked light and heavy chains that bind to beta-1 chain, forming an integrin that interacts with many extracellular-matrix proteins, together serving as a receptor for fibronectin, laminin, collagen, epiligrin, thrombospondin and CSPG4.