Alpha-catenin functions as the primary protein link between cadherins and the actincytoskeleton.[1] It has been reported that the actin binding proteins vinculin[2] and alpha-actinin[3] can bind to alpha-catenin. It has been suggested that alpha-catenin does not bind with high affinity to both actin filaments and the E-cadherin-beta-catenin complex at the same time.[4] It has been observed that when alpha-catenin is not in a molecular complex with beta-catenin, it dimerizes and functions to regulate actin filament assembly, possibly by competing with Arp2/3 protein.[5] Alpha catenin exhibits significant protein dynamics.[6]
The amino acid sequence of alpha-catenin has sequence similarity to that of vinculin.[7]
Types
Three alpha-catenin genes are expressed in humans:
CTNNA1, alpha-1-catenin (also called alpha-E-catenin)
CTNNA2, alpha-2-catenin (also called alpha-N-catenin)
CTNNA3, alpha-3-catenin (also called alpha-T-catenin)
^Nagafuchi A, Takeichi M, Tsukita S (May 1991). "The 102 kd cadherin-associated protein: similarity to vinculin and posttranscriptional regulation of expression". Cell. 65 (5): 849–57. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(91)90392-C. PMID 1904011. S2CID 38622586.
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