ITGB4
ITGB4 (integrin subunit beta 4, also known as CD104) is the beta 4 subunit of the integrin family of transmembrane adhesion receptors. It pairs with the alpha 6 subunit to form a laminin receptor with a structural role in the hemidesmosomes of epithelial cells. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ITGB4 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Integrins are heterodimers of alpha and beta subunits, noncovalently associated as transmembrane glycoprotein receptors. Different alpha and beta combinations differ in their ligand-binding specificities, and integrins mediate cell-matrix or cell-cell adhesion and transduce signals that regulate gene expression and cell growth. ITGB4 tends to associate with the alpha 6 subunit (ITGA6), and the ITGA6:ITGB4 complex acts as a receptor for laminin. It plays a critical structural role in the hemidesmosome of epithelial cells and is required for the regulation of keratinocyte polarity and motility.
Beyond adhesion, ITGA6:ITGB4 has been reported to bind growth factors and support their signalling. It binds NRG1 through its EGF domain, and this binding is essential for NRG1-ERBB signalling. It also binds IGF1 and IGF2, and in each case the binding is essential for signalling by that ligand. The ITGB4 protein is localised to the cell membrane and to hemidesmosomes at cell junctions.
The ITGB4 gene encodes the integrin beta 4 subunit, which belongs to the integrin beta chain family. HGNC classifies it among CD molecules, fibronectin type III domain containing proteins and integrin beta subunits; the previous gene name was integrin, beta 4. NCBI Gene notes that the subunit is likely to play a pivotal role in the biology of invasive carcinoma, and that mutations in this gene are associated with epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been described. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Itgb4.
ITGB4 has a critical structural role in the hemidesmosome of epithelial cells and helps regulate keratinocyte polarity and motility.
The integrin beta 4 subunit is likely to play a pivotal role in the biology of invasive carcinoma.
ITGA6:ITGB4 binds NRG1, IGF1 and IGF2, and this binding is essential for NRG1-ERBB, IGF1 and IGF2 signalling.
Mutations in ITGB4 are associated with epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia, making it relevant to studies of epithelial adhesion disorders.
ITGB4 is the beta 4 integrin subunit. With alpha 6 it forms a laminin receptor that plays a critical structural role in epithelial hemidesmosomes and helps regulate keratinocyte polarity and motility. The complex also binds NRG1, IGF1 and IGF2, and this binding is essential for their signalling.
ITGB4 is also known as CD104, and its previous HGNC name was integrin, beta 4. UniProt lists the protein as integrin beta-4. NCBI Gene reports multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants that encode distinct isoforms of the ITGB4 gene product.
Mutations in ITGB4 are associated with epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia, and the subunit is likely to be important in invasive carcinoma. Orthologs exist in mouse and rat, both named Itgb4; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other integrin beta subunits that sit alongside ITGB4 in the integrin family.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P16144; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.