biology

Integrin alpha 3

Integrin alpha 3 is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Integrin alpha 3 rather than just read about it. In short: Integrin alpha-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGA3 gene. ITGA3 is an integrin alpha subunit.

Key takeaways

Integrin alpha 3 belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Integrin alpha 3 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Integrin alpha 3 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Integrin alpha-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGA3 gene. ITGA3 is an integrin alpha subunit. Together with beta-1 subunit, it makes up half of the α3β1 integrin duplex that plays a role in neural migration and corticogenesis, acted upon by such factors as netrin-1 and reelin. ITGA3 encodes the integrin alpha 3 chain. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. Alpha chain 3 undergoes post-translational cleavage in the extracellular domain to yield disulfide-linked light and heavy chains that join with beta 1 to form an integrin that interacts with many extracellular matrix proteins.

Alternative names The alpha 3 beta 1 integrin is known variously as: very late (activation) antigen 3 ('VLA-3'), very common antigen 2 ('VCA-2'), extracellular matrix receptor 1 ('ECMR1'), and galactoprotein b3 ('GAPB3').

Interactions CD49c has been shown to interact with:

CD9 FHL2, LGALS8, and TSPAN4.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Integrin alpha 3

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Integrin alpha 3 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Integrin alpha 3 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Integrin alpha 3 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Integrin alpha 3

In research: Integrin alpha 3 appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Integrin alpha 3 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Integrin alpha 3 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Clusters of differentiation, Genes on human chromosome 17, Immunology stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Integrin alpha 3 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Integrin alpha 3 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Integrin alpha 3 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Integrin alpha 3 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Integrin alpha 3 in simple terms?

Integrin alpha-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGA3 gene. ITGA3 is an integrin alpha subunit.

Why does Integrin alpha 3 matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Integrin alpha 3?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Integrin alpha 3.