Junction Plakoglobin (JUP)

Junction plakoglobin, also known as gamma-catenin or JUP, is a major cytoplasmic protein which is the only known constituent common to submembranous plaques of both desmosomes and intermediate junctions. This protein forms distinct complexes with cadherins and desmosomal cadherins and is a member of the catenin family since it contains a distinct repeating amino acid motif called the armadillo repeat.
Plakoglobin (gamma-catenin) was originally identified as a component of desmosomes, where it can bind to the cadherin family member desmoglein I. Plakoglobin also associates with classical cadherins such as E-cadherin; in that context, it was called gamma-catenin. Plakoglobin is O-glycosylated near its N-terminal destruction box.