Tags: Protein.
Integrin alpha-9 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGA9 gene.This gene encodes an alpha integrin. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane glycoproteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain that mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. The protein encoded by this gene when bound to the beta 1 chain forms an integrin that is a receptor for VCAM1 cytotactin and osteopontin. Expression of this gene has been found to be upregulated in small cell lung cancers.