细胞粘附蛋白(Call Adhesion Protein) α-catenin是一种多功能的蛋白质,能链接E-\N-\P-钙粘附分子,具有参与细胞粘附和介导信号转导的双重功能,并与肿瘤的发生发展及浸润密切相关。 在正常个体中,βα-catenin和钙黏蛋白形成复合体,介导同型细胞的粘附,维持细胞的稳定;同时,α-catenin作为Wnt/α-catenin信号通路的关键成员在介导信号转导过程中调控细胞的增殖和凋亡。 在恶性肿瘤中,α-catenin的表达呈现明显的异质性,促使细胞异常增殖,还可使细胞之间的黏附性减弱,侵袭性增强。 The distinct peripheral cytosolic proteins, alpha, beta and gamma-catenin (102, 94 and 86 kDa) found in many tissues bind to the conserved cytoplasmic tail domain of the cell-adhesion cadherins. Catenins link E-cadherin to other integral membrane or cytoplasmic proteins and are modulated by Wnt-1 proto-oncogene. They are good candidates for mediating transduction of cell-cell contact positional signals to the cell interior. Absence of alpha-catenin is found in certain tumor cell lines and reduced levels in certain human carcinomas. Beta-catenin binds directly to the cytoplasmic tail of E-cadherin. It binds to the N-terminus of alpha-catenin and interacts with the protein product of the tumor suppressor gene APC. This interaction involves a 15-aa repeat in the APC. Beta-catenin cell levels seem to be controlled by APC. The central core region of beta-catenin is involved in mediation of cadherin-catenin complex interaction with EGFR. Also known as: alpha catenin ; alpha E catenin; alphaE catenin; Cadherin associated protein 102kDa; Cadherin associated protein; CAP 102; CAP102; Catenin (cadherin associated protein) alpha 1 102kDa; Catenin alpha 1; CTNNA 1; CTNNA1; FLJ36832; NY REN 13 antigen