The product of this gene belongs to the integrin alpha chain family of proteins. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. This gene encodes an alpha 4 chain. Unlike other integrin alpha chains, alpha 4 neither contains an I-domain, nor undergoes disulfide-linked cleavage. Alpha 4 chain associates with either beta 1 chain or beta 7 chain.[5]
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Rubio M, Nueda A, Vara A, Corbí Lopez AL (1992). "A single mRNA encodes the alpha 150 and alpha 80/70 forms of the alpha subunit of VLA4". Eur. J. Immunol. 22 (4): 1099–102. doi:10.1002/eji.1830220434. PMID1551405. S2CID83613615.
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