ITGA7

ITGA7

A gene on chromosome 12q13 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, differentiation and metastases. Alpha 7 binds to a beta-1 chain, forming a receptor for laminin-1, a basement membrane protein, which is primarily expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscles. It appears to be involved in differentiation and migration processes during myogenesis.
Molecular pathology
ITGA7 mutations are associated with congenital myopathy.