Integrin Alpha 9 (ITGa9)

ITGa9 is an alpha integrin. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane glycoproteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain that mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. The protein encoded by this gene, when bound to the beta 1 chain, forms an integrin that is a receptor for VCAM1, cytotactin and osteopontin. Expression of this gene has been found to be upregulated in small cell lung cancers.Integrins are a large family of cell surface glycoproteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix adhesion. Integrins are heterodimers composed of an alpha and a beta subunit bound noncovalently to each other. Alpha integrins, such as ITGA9, contain a large N-terminal extracellular domain with 7 conserved repeats of putative metal-binding domains, a transmembrane segment, and a short C-terminal cytoplasmic tail.