ITGA
ITGA refers to the integrin alpha chain gene family, which encodes the alpha subunits of integrin receptors. Integrins are heterodimeric cell surface receptors formed by pairing one alpha and one beta subunit. The ITGA genes (including ITGA1 through ITGA11 and ITGAV) encode the alpha subunits that define the ligand specificity and tissue distribution of these receptors. When paired with beta subunits (ITGB), they mediate cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins and participate in bidirectional signaling that regulates cell survival, differentiation, and migration.
All ITGA-encoded proteins share a conserved architecture: a large extracellular domain containing a ligand-binding region, a
Ligand specificity and function vary among alpha subunits. Examples include α1β1 and α2β1, which bind collagen;
Regulation of ITGA proteins occurs through inside-out and outside-in signaling, with activation modulated by intracellular adaptor