This gene encodes a member of the catenin family of proteins that play an important role in cell adhesion process by connecting cadherins located on the plasma membrane to the actin filaments inside the cell. The encoded mechanosensing protein contains three vinculin homology domains and undergoes conformational changes in response to cytoskeletal tension, resulting in the reconfiguration of cadherin-actin filament connections. Certain mutations in this gene cause butterfly-shaped pigment dystrophy.
Categories
Primary Antibodies
Cellular Localization
Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, Membrane
Clonality
polyclonal
Description
Alpha catenin is an essential component of adherens junctions that connects E-cadherin-β-catenin complexes with the actin cytoskeleton. It also recruits a range of other important proteins to developing intercellular junctions. Three alpha catenins exist in human: alpha-E-catenin, alpha-N-catenin, and alpha-T-catenin, which share substantial amino-acid sequence similarity but have distinct tissue distribution. alpha-E-catenin is ubiquitously expressed, alpha-N-catenin is restricted to neuronal tissue, and alpha-T-catenin is primarily expressed in heart tissue. Reduced levels of alpha-E-catenin protein seem to be characteristic of many different human cancers, including malignant tumours of the breast, colon, stomach, oesophagus, bladder and liver. In addition, the loss of alpha-E-catenin often correlates with the degree of tumour differentiation and metastasis.