Integrin alpha-6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGA6 gene. The ITGA6 protein product is the integrin alpha chain alpha 6. Integrins are integral cell-surface proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. A given chain may combine with multiple partners resulting in different integrins. For example, alpha 6 may combine with beta 4 in the integrin referred to as TSP180, or with beta 1 in the integrin VLA-6. Integrins are known to participate in cell adhesion as well as cell-surface mediated signalling. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. Specific loss of this integrin chain in the intestinal epithelium, and thus of their hemidesmosomes, induces long-standing colitis and infiltrating adenocarcinomas.
Background References
1. Russell, A.J., et al. 2003. α6/β4 integrin regulates keratinocyte chemotaxis through differential GTPase activation and antagonism of α3/β1 Integrin. J. Cell Sci. 116: 3543-3556.
2. Kazarov, A.R., et al. 2002. An extracellular site on tetraspanin CD151 determines α3 and α6 Integrin-dependent cellular morphology. J. Cell Biol. 158: 1299-1309.
Sequence Similarity
Belongs to the integrin alpha chain family.
Tissue Specificity
Integrin alpha-6/beta-4 is predominantly expressed by epithelia. Isoforms containing segment X1 are ubiquitously expressed. Isoforms containing segment X1X2 are expressed in heart, kidney, placenta, colon, duodenum, myoblasts and myotubes, and in a limited number of cell lines; they are always coexpressed with the ubiquitous isoform containing segment X1. In some tissues (e.g. Salivary gland), isoforms containing cytoplasmic segment A and isoforms containing segment B are detected while in others, only isoforms containing one cytoplasmic segment are found (segment A in epidermis and segment B in kidney). Processed integrin alpha-6: Expressed at low levels in normal prostate tissue with elevated levels in prostate cancer tissue (at protein level).
Post-translational Modification
Isoforms containing segment A, but not segment B, are the major targets for PMA-induced phosphorylation. Phosphorylation occurs on 'Ser-1103' of isoform alpha-6X1X2A. Phosphorylation is not required for the induction of integrin alpha-6A/beta-1 high affinity but may reduce the affinity for ligand.; Undergoes PLAU-mediated cleavage at residues Arg-634-635-Arg in a time-dependent manner to produce processed integrin alpha-6 (alpha6p). Production of alpha6p enhances prostate cancer cell invasion and migration.; Palmitoylation by DHHC3 enhances stability and cell surface expression.
Western blot analysis of Integrin alpha 6 on different lysates with Rabbit anti-Integrin alpha 6 antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/2,000 dilution.
Lane 1: A431 cell lysate (20 µg/Lane) Lane 2: Mouse colon tissue lysate (40 µg/Lane) Lane 3: Mouse kidney tissue lysate (40 µg/Lane) Lane 4: Rat colon tissue lysate (40 µg/Lane)
Predicted band size: 127 kDa Observed band size: 127 kDa
Exposure time: 43 seconds; ECL: K1802;
4-20% SDS-PAGE gel.
Proteins were transferred to a PVDF membrane and blocked with 5% NFDM/TBST for 1 hour at room temperature. The primary antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/2,000 dilution was used in 5% NFDM/TBST at 4℃ overnight. Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG - HRP Secondary Antibody (HA1001) at 1/50,000 dilution was used for 1 hour at room temperature.
Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded mouse stomach tissue using anti-Integrin alpha 6 antibody. The section was pre-treated using heat mediated antigen retrieval with Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 8.0-8.4) for 20 minutes.The tissues were blocked in 5% BSA for 30 minutes at room temperature, washed with ddH2O and PBS, and then probed with the primary antibody (ET1602-1, 1/50) for 30 minutes at room temperature. The detection was performed using an HRP conjugated compact polymer system. DAB was used as the chromogen. Tissues were counterstained with hematoxylin and mounted with DPX.
Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded human colon cancer tissue with Rabbit anti-Integrin alpha 6 antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution.
The section was pre-treated using heat mediated antigen retrieval with Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 9.0) for 20 minutes. The tissues were blocked in 1% BSA for 20 minutes at room temperature, washed with ddH2O and PBS, and then probed with the primary antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution for 1 hour at room temperature. The detection was performed using an HRP conjugated compact polymer system. DAB was used as the chromogen. Tissues were counterstained with hematoxylin and mounted with DPX.
Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded human colon tissue with Rabbit anti-Integrin alpha 6 antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution.
The section was pre-treated using heat mediated antigen retrieval with Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 9.0) for 20 minutes. The tissues were blocked in 1% BSA for 20 minutes at room temperature, washed with ddH2O and PBS, and then probed with the primary antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution for 1 hour at room temperature. The detection was performed using an HRP conjugated compact polymer system. DAB was used as the chromogen. Tissues were counterstained with hematoxylin and mounted with DPX.
Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded mouse colon tissue with Rabbit anti-Integrin alpha 6 antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution.
The section was pre-treated using heat mediated antigen retrieval with Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 9.0) for 20 minutes. The tissues were blocked in 1% BSA for 20 minutes at room temperature, washed with ddH2O and PBS, and then probed with the primary antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution for 1 hour at room temperature. The detection was performed using an HRP conjugated compact polymer system. DAB was used as the chromogen. Tissues were counterstained with hematoxylin and mounted with DPX.
Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded rat colon tissue with Rabbit anti-Integrin alpha 6 antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution.
The section was pre-treated using heat mediated antigen retrieval with Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 9.0) for 20 minutes. The tissues were blocked in 1% BSA for 20 minutes at room temperature, washed with ddH2O and PBS, and then probed with the primary antibody (ET1602-1) at 1/1,000 dilution for 1 hour at room temperature. The detection was performed using an HRP conjugated compact polymer system. DAB was used as the chromogen. Tissues were counterstained with hematoxylin and mounted with DPX.
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