Alpha-7 / Beta-1 integrin
The alpha7/beta1 integrin is expressed on skeletal and cardiac muscle at specific stages during muscle development. It is a receptor for laminin-1 and binds to it's E8 domain. This integrin is also found localized in focal contacts when melanoma cells attach to laminin-1, while normal melanocytes do not express this integrin. Since alpha7/beta1 is developmentally regulated in muscle cells, it is thought that this integrin has a role in their development. The expression of the three known splice variants is in addition developmentally regulated. Expression of alpha7B precedes the xpression of alpha7A and alpha7C. Alpha7/beta1 is also a trophoblast specific laminin receptor on which it may serve a specific function during the early postimplantation period. This integrin is also known as VLA-7 (very late activation antigen 7).
Last updated on 23/03/97
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